Department for Work and Pensions

Apprentices: Dyslexia

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many apprentices who have dyslexia have received support from the Access to Work fund in each of the last five years.

Justin Tomlinson: The Government does not collate data on the number of apprentices with dyslexia who have received support from Access for Work.However, the overall number of people with dyslexia who are helped by Access to Work has been steadily increasing. In 2014/15, 4,560 people who reported dyslexia as their primary condition were supported by the scheme.

Occupational Pensions: LGBT People

Ben Howlett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to extend occupational pensions to include widows from same sex married couples in the same way as widows from other married couples are currently included.

Justin Tomlinson: The Government is considering the findings of the statutory review into survivor benefits in occupational pension schemes that was required by section 16 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013. The Review provided important information on the benefits, costs and other effects of eliminating or reducing differences in survivor benefit provision.The Government will respond to the Review in due course.

Welfare Reform and Work Bill

Ben Howlett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department will provide a definition of the term vulnerable group for the purposes of the Welfare Reform and Work Bill; and with whom his Department will consult on that definition.

Priti Patel: Our reforms aim to ensure that work always pays more than a life on benefits; that the system is fair to those who pay for it, as well as those who benefit from it; and that support is focused on the most vulnerable which is why we are protecting pensioner benefits and payments for the additional costs of care and disability.

Department for Work and Pensions: Wales

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, by what process his Department identified the areas of policy within its responsibility proposed for reservation in Annex B of the publication Powers for a Purpose: Towards a lasting devolution settlement for Wales, published on 27 February 2015.

Priti Patel: Annex B to the Powers for a Purpose Command Paper provided an illustrative list of the main areas in which reservations would be needed in a reserved powers model. The list described the Government’s emerging thinking as the new reserved powers model was being developed. The Government published its full proposals in the draft Wales Bill on 20 October. .

Department for Work and Pensions: Wales

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the matters within his Department's responsibility in Schedule 1 of the draft Wales Bill have been designated as reserved.

Priti Patel: The reservations listed in Schedule 1 to the draft Wales Bill reflects the Government’s view of where the Welsh devolution boundary lies following the devolution of further powers to the Assembly provided for in the draft Bill.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training has been given to Jobcentre Plus staff on the application of benefit sanctions in circumstances where a parent is unable to comply with conditions for benefit because of lack of suitable childcare.

Priti Patel: The Government sees sanctions as playing an important part in the labour market system, encouraging people to comply with conditions which will help them move into work. We want the sanctions system to be clear, fair and effective in promoting positive behaviours and we will continue to keep it under review so that it meets those aims.Benefit sanction decisions within Jobcentre Plus are made by Decision Makers and Work Coaches. It is made clear that claimants’ caring responsibilities must always be taken into consideration, as well as emphasising the importance of a personalised and individual approach in every case.This Government spent £5bn on childcare in 2014-2015– more than any previous administration and an increase of £1bn since 2010. We are now going further still, with a new package of support designed to improve the affordability and accessibility of childcare for working families. We are extending the free entitlement for 3 and 4 years from 15 hours to 30 hours per week for working parents, from September 2017, worth £5,000 per child per year. We are also introducing Tax-Free Childcare for working parents from early 2017, with a Government contribution of up to £2,000 per child.

Department for Work and Pensions: Wales

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times he has (a) met and (b) corresponded with a minister of the Welsh Government on the draft Wales Bill in the last 12 months.

Priti Patel: The Wales Office is the lead Government department on the draft Wales Bill, and is the primary point of contact with the Welsh Government on matters related to the draft Bill.

Social Security Benefits

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's current targets are for processing benefit payments.

Priti Patel: The Performance of the processing of benefit payments is regularly monitored internally against a set of planning assumptions but there are no published targets

Children: Maintenance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many non-compliant cases the Child Support Agency has closed under its 1993 and 2003 statutory schemes' closing process.

Priti Patel: As at October 2015, 110 non-compliant cases have been closed as part of the CSA case closure programme.Notes:Figure rounded to the nearest 10.The figure is the number of cases that have closed in Segment 2 (the designated segment for non-compliant cases) as a result of being proactively selected for case closure.Individual cases can change circumstances over time. As it is the circumstances of the case that determine which segment it will be closed in, the volumes of cases in individual segments change over time, therefore figures may be subject to change.Closures are cases which have been fully closed on the CSA 1993/2003 Systems having undergone any arrears cleanse activity after liability ending.

Children: Maintenance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of outstanding cases handled by the Child Support Agency were classed as non-compliant before the implementation of the 1993 and 2003 statutory schemes' closure process.

Priti Patel: Proactive Case Closure of 1993 and 2003 Scheme cases began on 30 June 2014. As at June 2014, 14% of cases with a current liability were non-compliant i.e. paying nothing.The Department records statistics on the compliance status of 1993/2003 Scheme cases and publishes these in the Quarterly Summary of Statistics. This information is set out on Page 51 of the statistics which can be accessed online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-support-agency-quarterly-summary-of-statistics-june-2015.

Universal Credit: Housing

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether 18 to 21 year olds who live in supported accommodation will be able to claim the housing element of universal credit when they move out of supported accommodation.

Justin Tomlinson: From April 2017 the Government will remove automatic entitlement to housing support for 18-21 year olds in Universal Credit. This rule, which will apply to new claims from those who are out of work, will ensure parity with those young adults who are in employment but are unable to afford to leave home. However, there will be circumstances where it is reasonable to support a young person in living independently. The Department is discussing this issue with key stakeholders in order to determine which groups might be exempt from the general rule. This includes many organisations that provide supported accommodation for young people. It is too early to confirm the outcome from those discussions.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have died within a week of being notified of a benefit sanction in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Priti Patel: The information requested is not collected.

Social Security Benefits

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that claimants with limited English are referred to a structured programme to improve their English skills.

Priti Patel: All Jobseekers are screened for their ability in English Language skills and referred to appropriate English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) training to improve their skills to help support them into employment.

Children: Maintenance

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many child maintenance cases used Family Based Arrangements since 2010; and what proportion in each scheme has (a) resulted in regular maintenance and (b) broken down, resulting in the use of the collection service, in each year since 2010.

Priti Patel: Family Based Arrangements sit outside of the Child Maintenance Service as these are child maintenance arrangements which parents have agreedbetween themselves.Information on how many child maintenance cases used Family Based Arrangements since 2010 is not routinely recorded for management information purposes and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Children: Maintenance

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints  relating to the implementation of charging for the 2012 statutory maintenance scheme have been received by (a) the Child Maintenance Service and (b) Child Maintenance Options.

Priti Patel: (a) The information requested is not routinely recorded for management information purposes and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.(b) Child Maintenance Options (CM Options) is a free service that provides impartial information and support to help separated parents make decisions about their child maintenance arrangements. They are also the gateway to the statutory Child Maintenance Service, ensuring parents who wish to access the 2012 Scheme are making a fully informed decision and have considered making their own arrangements first.CM Options will provide information on the charging associated with applications made to the 2012 scheme, but any dissatisfaction in relation to collections charges is directed to the Child Maintenance Service to respond.

Children: Maintenance

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of child maintenance cases transitioned from the legacy child maintenance schemes to collection and payment under the 2012 scheme in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the rest of the UK.

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of child maintenance cases in the 1993 and 2003 legacy schemes which were in receipt of regular ongoing maintenance being paid to the non-resident or receiving parent and which were subject to forced closure did not migrate to the 2012 Child Maintenance Scheme.

Priti Patel: Child Support Agency (CSA) cases from the 1993 and 2003 schemes are not automatically transferred / migrated to the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) 2012 Scheme. All existing CSA cases are being closed gradually as part of the CSA Case Closure process.Before an application can be made to the CMS, they must speak with the Child Maintenance Options Service where they are encouraged to make their own family based arrangement. Where this is not possible, or appropriate, they are able to apply to the CMS.

Children: Maintenance

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the value was of child maintenance payments made to receiving parents under each scheme and each type of payment arrangement in each year since 2010.

Priti Patel: Information on the value of payments made to receiving parents, on the 2012 scheme, or Parents with Care under the 1993/2003 Schemes are included in the Client Fund Accounts. Previous publications can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/child-maintenance-client-funds-accountsThe Client Funds Account 2014/15 is planned for publication by the end of 2015.

Children: Maintenance

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much the Child Maintenance Service has collected in charges since their introduction.

Priti Patel: Income received from fees and charges for the 2012 Child Maintenance Scheme is disclosed on page 136 of the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2014/15. Up to 31st March 2015, £2.802 million has been collected.

Children: Maintenance

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total cost to the public purse was of repayments made following the Manual Process 217 computer errors in child maintenance collection.

Priti Patel: From February 2015 to November 2015 the Department has awarded 305 payments for financial loss under Manual Process 217, at a cost of £122,000.Note: This figure has been rounded to the closest thousand pounds.

Alan McCardle

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will conduct a peer review into the death of Alan McCardle in Slough.

Priti Patel: The department is unable to comment on individual cases.

Immigration: Lithuania

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people resident in the UK of working age who were born in Lithuania are (a) in the G8 Claimant Count, (b) in receipt of employment and support allowance and other incapacity benefits and (c) lone parents in receipt of income support.

Priti Patel: The information requested is not available however the department has published some statistics on working age benefit recipientsclaiming within 6 months of National Insurance Number (NINO) registration. This information is known as “Nationality at point of National Insurance number registration of DWP benefit claimants” and is included in the “Statistical Bulletin on National Insurance Number Allocations to Adult Overseas Nationals Entering the UK – registrations to February 2015”, available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/nationality-at-point-of-nino-registration-of-dwp-working-age-benefit-recipients-data-to-feb-2015

Jobseeker's Allowance: Mental Illness

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of claimants on jobseeker's allowance have registered as having a mental health condition.

Priti Patel: JSA claimants do not have to declare a mental health condition, therefore the information requested is not available.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Mental Illness

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what monitoring his Department carries out on changes in the number of people on jobseeker's allowance registered as having a mental health condition; and what change there has been in such numbers since 2010.

Priti Patel: JSA claimants do not have to declare a mental health condition, therefore the information requested is not available.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Mental Illness

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department makes available for people with mental health conditions who claim jobseeker's allowance in getting them back into the workplace.

Priti Patel: Jobcentre Plus delivers a flexible support model for claimants: a core regime of regular face-to-face meetings, flexible work coach support and a menu of support options. This includes a personalised service tailored to the individual needs of the claimant, such as Mental Health conditions, and the local labour market. Additionally, the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service offers support to individuals with a mental health condition who are absent from work or finding work difficult.

Freedom of Information

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the reasons were for the recent changes in the proportion of resolvable  Freedom of Information requests whose answers were fully withheld.

Justin Tomlinson: This Department considers and responds to each request for information under the Freedom of Information Act, on its own merits. I can confirm that there have not been any changes to Departmental Policy in doing so.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is his policy that the day of the week on which claimants are asked to sign on for jobseekers allowance should be varied.

Priti Patel: The day of the week on which claimants are asked to sign on is typically fixed during a claimant’s new jobseeker interview.However, this may be varied because of the personal circumstances of the claimant or for operational reasons. This policy ensures that claimants are able to manage their lives and take advantage of work-related opportunities whilst remaining close to Jobcentre Plus support. Whatever signing day is agreed, be it linked to the NINO or otherwise, entitlement is not affected as this will still be tied to the date of claim.

Winter Fuel Payments: British Nationals Abroad

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on winter fuel payments for UK citizens living in (a) Cyprus, (b) France, (c) Gibraltar, (d) Greece, (e) Malta, (f) Portugal and (g) Spain in 2014-15.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not available. However, the annual numbers and amounts of Winter Fuel Payments paid to all recipients in the EEA and Switzerland, by country, are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/winter-fuel-payments-by-eea-country

Disability Living Allowance: Diabetes

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department's review of guidance relating to the eligibility of children with Type 1 diabetes for Disability Living Allowance was initiated; and what conclusion that review reached.

Justin Tomlinson: The current guidance for DLA decision makers on children with type 1 diabetes has been under review since March 2015. It is now near completion with conclusions reached in close collaboration with subject matter experts and will be published shortly.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his oral contribution of 20 June 2011, Official Report, column 52, on state pensions for women, what meetings he has had on the transitional arrangements referred to (a) between 20 June 2011 and 7 May 2015 and (b) since 8 May 2015.

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his oral contribution of 20 June 2011, Official Report, column 52, on state pensions for women, whether he plans to make an announcement of transitional provisions prior to the introduction of the single-tier state pension.

Justin Tomlinson: Ministers discussed and considered transitional arrangements during the passage on the Pensions Bill 2011.The Government carried out extensive analysis of the impacts of bringing forward the rise to age 66 when legislating for the change in State Pension age. A final Impact Assessment was published in November 2011 following Royal Assent the Pensions Act 2011.https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181461/pensions-bill-2011-summary-of-impacts.pdfThe Impact Assessment includes analysis of the decision to amend the timetable originally set out in the bill so as to cap the maximum increase at 18 months rather than 2 years. This concession benefited almost a quarter of a million women, who would otherwise have experienced delays of up to two years. A similar number of men also benefited from a reduced increase, and the concession was worth around £1 billion in total.The Government will not be revisiting the State Pension age arrangements for women affected by the 2011 Act.

Home Office

Alcoholic Drinks: Bicycles

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what restrictions are in place to monitor mobile pubs on bicycles.

Mike Penning: Licensing authorities make decisions about the sale of alcohol which is governed by the Licensing Act 2003.Under the Licensing Act 2003, there is a prohibition on the sale of alcohol from a moving vehicle. A person would only be able to buy alcohol if the vehicle were stationary and the operator would need a premises licence at every place the vehicle stopped to sell alcohol. There is nothing to prevent the consumption of alcohol by passengers on such vehicles.

Home Office: Wales

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by what process her Department identified the areas of policy within its responsibility proposed for reservation in Annex B of the publication Powers for a Purpose: Towards a lasting devolution settlement for Wales, published on 27 February 2015.

Karen Bradley: Annex B to the Powers for a Purpose Command Paper provided an illustrative list of the main areas in which reservations would be needed in a reserved powers model. The list described the Government’s emerging thinking as the new reserved powers model was being developed. The Government published its full proposals in the draft Wales Bill on 20 October.

Home Office: Wales

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons the matters within her Department's responsibility in Schedule 1 of the draft Wales Bill have been designated as reserved.

Karen Bradley: The reservations listed in Schedule 1 to the draft Wales Bill reflect the Government’s view of where the Welsh devolution boundary lies following the devolution of further powers to the Assembly provided for in the draft Bill.

Home Office: Wales

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times she has (a) met and (b) corresponded with a minister of the Welsh Government on the draft Wales Bill in the last 12 months.

Karen Bradley: The Wales Office is the lead Government department on the draft Wales Bill, and is the primary point of contact with the Welsh Government on matters related to the draft Bill.

Refugees: Syria

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Syrian refugees have been admitted to the UK since September 2015 in each region; and how many she plans to admit by the end of 2016.

Richard Harrington: We will not be giving a running commentary on numbers. The refugees that we are bringing to the United Kingdom are very vulnerable people. Our prime concern is their safety and protection as they arrive in this country. We believe that one way to protect their privacy and ensure their recovery and integration is to limit the amount of information about them that we make publicly available. We want to ensure the understandable public interest in the scheme is not based on a running commentary on the numbers that have arrived.Notwithstanding this, the Home Office is committed to publishing data in an orderly way as part of the regular quarterly Immigration Statistics, in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. The next set of figures will be in the quarterly release on 26 November 2015 and will cover the period July-September 2015.The programme is driven by need, and the number resettled in a particular period will depend on a range of factors. This includes the number of referrals we have received from UNHCR and the number of confirmed places we have received from local authorities that are suitable for the specific needs of those who have been accepted for resettlement. Rather than a monthly or yearly target we acknowledge that some months we will resettle more or less than others because it is based on the need in the region at that time and the progress of those people through the system. We cannot, therefore, state at this time how many confirmed places will be made available by the end of 2016.

Home Office: Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) complaints and (b) investigations into complaints made by civil servants against special advisers in her Department there have been in each of the last five years; and how many such (i) complaints and (ii) investigations are outstanding.

Karen Bradley: We have no records of any complaints against or investigations into Home Office Special Advisers in the last five years.

Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences: Victim Support Schemes

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding her Department plans to allocate to domestic and sexual violence support services after April 2016; and for how long she plans for that funding to be available.

Karen Bradley: Holding answer received on 20 November 2015



Tackling violence against women and girls remains a priority for this Government. Allocation of funding for domestic and sexual violence support services is dependent on the outcome of the Spending Review.

Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to ratify the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.

Karen Bradley: Holding answer received on 20 November 2015



The previous Government signed the Istanbul Convention in June 2012 and this Government remains committed to its ratification.The UK already complies with the vast majority of the articles through our comprehensive work to protect women and girls from violence, including criminalising forced marriage as required by the Convention. However, primary legislation will be required to comply with the extra-territorial jurisdiction provisions in Article 44 of the Convention before ratification. The Government is liaising with the devolved administrations about ratification, including any further legislative steps necessary.The Government takes its international commitments very seriously and will only commit to such ratification when we are absolutely satisfied that we comply with all articles. We will continue to lead efforts to tackle violence against women and girls, end Female Genital Mutilation and combat early and forced marriage, both at home and abroad.

Visas: Fees and Charges

Michelle  Thomson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much revenue her Department has raised from each category of visa in each of the last three years.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 20 November 2015



We do not record income broken down for each category of visa.However, the Home Office publishes the amount of income raised through fees charged for visa applications within the Home Office’s Annual Report and Accounts for the three previous years, copies of which are available in the Vote Office.Statistical information relating to volumes within each visa category are published on the Gov.uk website, and are available at the following link. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2015/list-of-tables

Electronic Warfare

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the effect of increased cyber-security funding on the numbers of (a) frontline police and (b) police community support officers.

Mike Penning: Cyber Security, including combating cyber crime, is a top priority threat to national security. That is why, through the National Cyber Security Programme, we have invested over £90 million under the last Parliament to bolster the law enforcement response, and we will continue to invest. As the Chancellor announced this week, this Government has committed to spending £1.9 billion on cyber security over the next five years, including for cyber crime.To date, we have funded the development of National Crime Agency’s National Cyber Crime Unit (NCCU) and of cyber teams within the Regional Organised Crime Unit network; and invested in Action Fraud and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. We are clear that front line policing also needs to adapt with the changing nature of the threat. In partnership with the College of Policing, we have rolled out cyber crime training so that it is available to all police officers and staff, with over 150,000 modules completed so far. We recognise that local policing capabilities in respect of the investigation of digital crime are a particular concern – that is why we are working with the National Policing Lead for Digital Investigations to define the capabilities required to conduct effective digital investigations. This Government has also made a commitment to expand the number of volunteer ‘Cyber Specials’ across policing. This will harness expertise from other sectors to further increase police capability at all levels, including within local forces.This Government will continue investing at the national, regional and local levels to ensure we have the capacity to deal with the volume and sophistication of online crime. We will continue to boost the capabilities of the NCCU by increasing their ability to investigate the most serious cyber crime, both domestically and internationally. We will increase work with industry to stop cyber attacks reaching the UK, and we will work with industry and the public to help them better protect themselves.

Nature Conservation: Crime

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to include all Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime wildlife crime priorities within the Counting Rules Code 96.

Mike Penning: Recorded crime covers all indictable and triable-either-way offences. Additionally, a few closely associated summary offences are included. All wildlife related offences meeting those criteria, whether or not they relate to the priorities of the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime, will fall within the Counting Rules Code 96.

Nature Conservation: Crime

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how her Department plans to ensure that police forces and partner agencies are supported to undertake wildlife criminal investigations.

Mike Penning: The Government understands the importance of tackling wildlife crime. The Home Office is providing specific funding of £136,000 to support the work of the National Wildlife Crime Unit this year, with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs providing similar funding.The funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit is in addition to the funding that central Government provides to the police in England and Wales to tackle all types of crime (including wildlife crime), which in 2015-16 will be over £8 billion. In addition, the police receive around a quarter of their total funding from the police precept component of council tax. The deployment of police resources is a matter for individual Chief Constables and local Police and Crime Commissioners.

Nature Conservation: Crime

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how her Department plans to ensure it identifies organised crime groups involved in wildlife crime through the information sharing process after March 2016.

Mike Penning: The National Crime Agency brings together intelligence from the whole of UK law enforcement to provide a single view of the most significant serious and organised crime threats and vulnerabilities. Organised acquisitive crime, which includes wildlife crime, is one of the threat categories considered by the National Crime Agency.

Police: Stress

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to address stress-related sickness absence in the police force.

Mike Penning: It is for chief officers, supported by the College of Policing, to ensure good management systems are in place to support officers and staff in their work and manage welfare needs. We know policing, by its nature, can be a stressful and demanding job. This is why the Government’s Blue Light Services programme is currently providing £10m to help emergency service personnel and volunteers, including officers suffering from stress related illness and mental health. In addition, the College of Policing will provide direct support to police forces to improve the health and wellbeing of officers and staff.

Refugees: Syria

Hannah Bardell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on accepting asylum claims from (a) Syrian refugees who have reached the UK travelling through other EU member states without claiming asylum in one of those states and (b) such refugees who reside with family members who have a right to reside in the UK.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Terrorism

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2015 to Question 12956, how many of the suspicious activity reports received under the provisions of the Terrorism Act 2000 have been investigated; and how many prosecutions have resulted from those investigations.

Mr John Hayes: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Communication Service Providers: Compensation

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the cost of reimbursing communication service providers under the provisions of the draft Investigatory Powers Bill in the first 10 years in which an Act arising from that draft bill is in force.

Mr John Hayes: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2015 to Question 15325, how any of those asylum claims resulted in a positive asylum decision.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences: Victim Support Schemes

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) independent domestic violence advisers and (b) independent sexual violence advisers operating in the criminal justice system in each year since 2010-11.

Karen Bradley: The previous Government ring-fenced nearly £40 million – £10 million per year – of stable funding up until 2015 for specialist local domestic and sexual violence support services, rape crisis centres, the national domestic violence helplines and stalking helpline. This funding has been extended until April 2016 and includes part-funding for 144 Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) and 87 Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs).The Home Office supports these roles through training and awareness-raising, including for the majority of IDVAs and ISVAs who are employed by local authorities and third sector organisations.We recognise the importance of specialist support services and are working with voluntary sector partners and local commissioners to assess coverage and need for these specialist advisers.

Northern Ireland Office

Public Records: Northern Ireland

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the release of documents relating to Northern Ireland held at Swadlincote under the 30-year rule.

Mr Ben Wallace: There have been no discussions with the Secretary of State for Defence on the release of documents at Swadlincote. The Northern Ireland Office has no records held at Swadlincote.

Northern Ireland Office: Families

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps her Department has taken to embed the family test into its policy making.

Mr Ben Wallace: Officials in my Department have liaised with DWP as the lead Department for the Family Test to embed it into the policy process. This has included training officials on applying the Test, disseminating relevant evidence, learning materials and best practice.

Department of Health

Food

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the level of funding for the (a) Food Crime Unit and (b) Food Standards Agency.

Jane Ellison: As part of the Spending Review process, discussions are ongoing between officials from the Food Standards Agency and the Health Spending Team at HM Treasury on funding for the Food Crime Unit and Food Standards Agency.

Palliative Care: Older People

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the circumstances in which patients over a particular age can be automatically marked as Do Not Resuscitate; and whether medical staff must follow a particular procedure to check with elderly patients upon admission to hospital or their relatives whether they wish to be resuscitated.

Ben Gummer: The Department expects National Health Service trusts and NHS foundation trusts to have in place local policies on resuscitation that are based on expert professional guidance. We have commended, as a basis for local policies, professional guidance, Decisions relating to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (2014), https://www.resus.org.uk/dnacpr/decisions-relating-to-cpr/ published jointly by the British Medical Association, the Resuscitation Council (UK) and the Royal College of Nursing. The guidance is clear that any resuscitation decision must be tailored to the individual circumstances of the patient and must not be made on the basis of blanket assumptions related to a person’s age. For patients admitted to hospital for whom there is a risk of cardiac or respiratory arrest, healthcare staff should help patients to participate in the process of planning their future care, and, where possible, this should include information to enable the patient to have a better understanding of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in their particular circumstances and whether it could be successful.

Carers

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will carry out an assessment after the November Spending Review of local authorities' capacity to meet their new duties under the Care Act 2014 following changes to local authority funding.

Alistair Burt: Funding decisions for 2016/17 onwards, including on adult social care, are subject to the forthcoming Spending Review.Officials in the Department and across government are working hard to understand pressures on the care system and will consider adult social care expenditure and the future demand as part of this process. This includes ongoing Care Act pressures.We will continue to review and monitor implementation of the Care Act which includes a series of stocktakes of local authority readiness and the latest, from June 2015, demonstrates an overall positive picture on implementation. It details:- Councils’ confidence in their ability to deliver the Care Act Reforms in 2015/16 remains high, with 99% very or fairly confident.- 89% of councils say that they are ‘on track’ with their implementation. The remaining 11% report themselves as only slightly behind.There are two further local authority stocktakes planned for the remainder of the financial year which will monitor the progress on implementing change. It is our intention to repeat the surveys next year to continue monitoring progress, subject to agreement with local government.The Department will also commission a piece of research to evaluate and inform implementation of the Care Act 2014. The research will focus on knowing more about how the Act is being implemented locally and to see how effectively the Act is achieving its underlying aims.

Brain: Tumours

Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding the Government plans to provide for research on diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma brain tumours.

George Freeman: The usual practice of the Department's National Institute for Health Research and of the Medical Research Council is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. Both funders welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma and other brain tumours. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition.

Carers: Fees and Charges

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on charging carers for the support they receive in their caring role of an increase in the number of councils charging carers.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to monitor the number of local authorities charging carers for the support they receive to help them in their caring role.

Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 October 2015 to Question 13008.

Carers: Finance

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what decision his Department has made on the use of the £6 billion of funding allocated for the implementation of phase 2 of the Care Act 2014 now that the implementation of that phase has been postponed.

Alistair Burt: The Government recognises that social care is vital to enabling people to live healthy and independent lives.Funding decisions for 2016/17 onwards, including on adult social care, are subject to the forthcoming Spending Review.Officials in the Department and across government are working hard to understand pressures on the care system and will consider adult social care expenditure and future demand as part of this process.

Carers

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will create a database for local authorities on best practice in meeting their new duties under the Care Act 2014.

Alistair Burt: To support implementation of the Care Act, a joint Programme Management Office between the Department, the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of Directors of Adults Social Services (ADASS) has been established. This unprecedented partnership is driving collaborative working with the care sector, influencing the local implementation of these changes to support a consistent and coherent approach across the country. Earlier this year this approach was recognised by the National Audit Office as best practice and recommended it should be adopted by other similar work programmes.As part of this programme of work the Department has provided £2.7 million to nine regional local government networks to enable them to commission tools, products and non-statutory guidance to help local authorities in implementing the Care Act. The care sector has been involved in developing these materials and making sure they meet required standards. The materials focus on areas of key risk and challenge identified by local authorities and support the development of best practice. The Department also provided £4 million in 2015-16 for the ADASS to give local authorities targeted support and to help share best practice. Information on good practice, research and innovation aimed at improving the social care infrastructure is available at the following website.https://www.adass.org.uk/support-and-resources/In addition the LGA has included information on its website that details available learning and development resources, best practice guidance and practical tools to support the care sector. It also details the regional support available in each of the nine local government regions to help councils to implement the Care Act. The website is available at:http://www.local.gov.uk/care-support-reform;jsessionid=B36A65C6DFFB6012739EB96FDBE5918B.tomcat2The support work described above is part of a wider package of Sector-Led Improvement that the Department has funded the LGA and ADASS to deliver, under the umbrella of the Towards Excellence in Adult Social Care (TEASC) programme. The culture of Sector-Led Improvement, and the TEASC programme, are based on the principles that local authorities are responsible for their own performance, and are collectively responsible for the performance of the sector as a whole. This includes an ongoing commitment to share experience, advice and best practice at a regional and national level.

Sexual Assault Referral Centres

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting times for therapeutic services through referral pathways was for sexual assault referral centres which do not directly provide therapeutic services for children under 18 in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what care pathways are in place at each sexual assault referral centre; and what the average waiting time is for access to those pathways for (a) adults and (b) children under 18.

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the current average waiting time is for therapeutic services at each sexual assault referral centre for (a) adults and (b) children under 18.

Jane Ellison: NHS England has set out care pathways for adult and child Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) services in its `Commissioning Framework for Adult and Paediatric Sexual Assault referral Centre (SARC) Services’, published in August 2015. Pathway services are wide-ranging, including safeguarding, social care, housing, other medical support and therapeutic counselling. The framework is now being rolled out across England and outlines the expected core service.Data on waiting times into care pathways or therapeutic services in SARCs or referred to by SARCs, is not collected centrally.

Sexual Assault Referral Centres

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the time taken that children who have experienced abuse wait to receive support from therapeutic services.

Jane Ellison: In line with guidance published by NHS England in August, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have produced Local Transformation Plans (LTPs) for children and young people’s mental health with their local partners as proposed in Future in mind. These include plans for how CCGs will ensure that the needs of vulnerable groups, including children who have been sexually abused or assaulted, are met and will address the need for improvements and reduced waiting times, which will make it easier for children and young people to access high quality mental health care when they need it. All LTPs were received by 16 October 2015 and they are now being considered by NHS England. In addition, standard waiting times for mental health are being introduced for the first time, starting with standards on Early Intervention in Psychosis (came into force April 2015) and on Eating Disorders in Children and Young People (published in August 2015 and included in the local transformation plans produced by CCGs and now being assessed by NHS England).NHS England also published a Commissioning Framework for Adult and Paediatric Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) Services  in August 2015 which outlines the core services in SARCs and referral pathways to other services. These are now being rolled out throughout England.

Primary Health Care

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of GP appointments and A&E visits each year for self-treatable conditions which could have been treated at home or with advice from a pharmacist; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: NHS England’s Urgent and Emergency Care Review Phase 1 report (November 2013) estimated that 20% of general practitioner (GP) consultations relate to minor ailments which could largely be dealt with by self-care and support from community pharmacies.More recently, the NHS Alliance’s report, Making Time in General Practice (October 2015), found that around a sixth of patients covered by the study could potentially have been seen by someone else in the wider primary care team, such as clinical pharmacists, practice nurses or physician assistants, or by being supported to meet their own health needs.On 16 November 2015, the GP Workforce 10 Point Plan partners announced the pilots taking part in its new scheme to fund, recruit and employ clinical pharmacists in GP surgeries as part of efforts to promote new ways of working, improve patient access and reduce GP workload. NHS England has more than doubled funding from £15 million to £31 million for its clinical pharmacists in general practice pilot, this will be shared between the 73 successful applications which cover 698 GP practices and include 403 clinical pharmacists.The Department does not collate data nationally showing how many people who visit accident and emergency (A&E) departments could have been treated elsewhere. As part of the implementation stage of the urgent and emergency care review, NHS England is piloting the national ED (emergency department) pharmacy initiative. The pilot will show the potential for pharmacists to work alongside A&E staff as part of a joined-up, multidisciplinary workforce, to help ensure people with urgent care needs get the right advice in the right place, first time.

Cancer: Drugs

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure early access for the immuno-oncology treatment nivolumab for both lung cancer and melanoma.

George Freeman: Nivolumab (Opdivo) received a positive scientific opinion under the early access to medicines scheme for melanoma in May 2015 and for lung cancer in June 2015. Nivolumab was subsequently licensed for the treatment of advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma in June 2015 and for locally advanced or metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer after prior chemotherapy in July 2015.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently developing technology appraisal guidance on the use of nivolumab for the treatment of:- advanced, unresectable, metastatic melanoma - final guidance expected in May 2016;- non-small-cell, squamous, metastatic lung cancer (after chemotherapy) - final guidance expected in May 2016; and- untreated, advanced, unresectable, metastatic melanoma (with ipilimumab) - final guidance expected September 2016.Commissioners are legally required to fund drugs and treatments recommended in NICE technology appraisal guidance within three months of its final guidance being issued. In the absence of guidance from NICE, it is for commissioners to make decisions on whether to fund new medicines based on an assessment of the available evidence.We take the issue of ensuring rapid access to innovative therapies very seriously, which is why we have launched an independent Accelerated Access Review to make recommendations to Government on speeding up access for National Health Service patients to innovative and cost effective new medicines, diagnostics, medical technologies and digital products. The review published its interim report on 27 October 2015 and its full report and recommendations are expected in spring 2016.

Hospital Beds

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the proportion of delayed discharges from NHS hospitals due to the absence of community social care provision by local authorities in each year since 2010.

Alistair Burt: NHS England publishes monthly figures on the number of delayed discharges, including whether the delays are attributable to the National Health Service, social care or both.In the year April 2011 to March 2012, 31% of delays were attributable to social care. In 2012 - 2013 this figure was 28%. In 2013 - 2014 and 2014 - 2015 respectively the figure was 26%. In the six months from April to September 2015, 31% of delays were attributable to social care.Reducing the number of delays is an important issue, as delays can result in poorer outcomes for patients, interrupted patient flow and further pressure on acute services. Work is on-going across the Department and its arm’s length bodies to tackle this issue, including through the new Emergency Care Improvement Programme, implementation of high impact interventions to improve emergency care, sector-supported work across local government and work with the independent and voluntary sectors.

Cancer: Drugs

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will ensure that any new system of appraisal for cancer medicines will include in its remit appraisal for drugs which treat conditions with small patient populations.

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve the assessment of medicines for rarer cancers with small patient populations.

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that it intends to jointly consult with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on proposals for a new Cancer Drugs Fund operating model. This will include the future arrangements for the evaluation of cancer drugs, including drugs for rarer cancers with small patient populations. Members of the public and any interested parties will have the opportunity to consider and comment on these proposals.

Cancer: Drugs

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the potential future effect of immuno-oncology treatments and funding of such treatments through the NHS budget.

George Freeman: We have made no such assessment.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that provides guidance on the prevention and treatment of ill health and the promotion of good health and social care. NICE technology appraisal guidance makes recommendations on whether selected drugs and treatments represent a clinically and cost effective use of National Health Service resources.NICE has issued technology appraisal guidance that recommends the use of pembrolizumab for the treatment of advanced melanoma after disease progression with ipilimumab and is currently appraising a number of other immuno-oncology treatments/indications such as nivolumab.Commissioners are legally required to fund drugs and treatments recommended in NICE technology appraisal guidance within three months of its final guidance being issued. In the absence of guidance from NICE, it is for commissioners to make decisions on whether to fund new medicines based on an assessment of the available evidence.

Cancer: Drugs

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the potential for immune-oncology treatments to treat mesothelioma effectively.

George Freeman: A number of immuno-oncology treatments with the potential to treat mesothelioma are in development.Most significant new drugs are referred to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) technology appraisal programme to assess their clinical and cost effectiveness. Decisions on the suitability of these drugs for NICE appraisal will be made through the established topic selection process.

Cancer: Drugs

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the closure to new medicines on the Cancer Drugs Fund list on patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia.

George Freeman: Neither the Department nor NHS England has made any such assessment. NHS England has advised that, although it is not considering new applications to the national Cancer Drugs Fund list at this time, there have been no new drugs launched for chronic myeloid leukaemia in the past 12 months.

NHS: Drugs

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential financial benefits to the NHS of increased utilisation of biosimilar medicines.

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of biosimilar medicines amongst NHS healthcare professionals.

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to support the uptake of (a) biosimilar products and (b) other innovative and clinically beneficial forms of medicine.

George Freeman: A biosimilar sub group of the Pharmaceutical Market Supply Group was established in October 2012; composed of NHS procurement pharmacists and representatives of the Department’s Commercial Medicines Unit, to help the National Health Service achieve benefits from new biosimilar molecules by helping remove obstacles to successful market launches and to encourage uptake.The Accelerated Access Review, chaired by Sir Hugh Taylor, will make recommendations to government on reforms to accelerate access for NHS patients to innovative medicines and medical technologies, including biosimilar products, making our country the best place in the world to design, develop and deploy these products. This will cover products that may already be on the market and off patent but are being innovatively repurposed to treat conditions other than those in remit of the existing license.Given their system leadership role, NHS England has established a programme of work to increase awareness, understanding and confidence amongst decision makers, such as commissioners, clinicians, pharmacists, patients and others in their consideration of the appropriate use of biosimilar medicines.In January this year, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) updated its methods for providing guidance and advice on biosimilar medicines and in August, it published a position statement on biosimilar medicines which sets out its approach:http://www.nice.org.uk/news/article/evaluating-biosimilar-medicineshttp://www.nice.org.uk/Media/Default/About/what-we-do/NICE-guidance/NICE-technology-appraisals/Biosimilars%20position%20statement%20-%20updated%20June%202015.pdfIn addition, NICE’s health technology adoption programme has produced a specific resource about Infliximab biosimilars relating to the technology appraisal for infliximab, adalimumab and golimumab for moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis after the failure of conventional therapy (TA329). The resource which is presented as a series of examples of current practice, provides practical information and advice on the use of biosimilar versions of Infliximab and is intended for use by both clinical and non-clinical staff considering the introduction of these biosimilar medicines into the NHS:http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta329/resources/nice-technology-appraisal-adoption-support-for-introducing-biosimilar-versions-of-infliximab-inflectra-and-remsima-493818736/chapter/1-Introduction

Haematological Cancer: Screening

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of when new, cheap forms of blood cancer tests are likely to be made available on the NHS.

George Freeman: A number of new blood tests, which show promise in diagnosing cancers earlier, are currently undergoing clinical trials. We would expect these to become available in the National Health Service once they have satisfied the regulatory requirements.

Muscular Dystrophy: Drugs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make Translarna available on the NHS to treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

George Freeman: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is evaluating Translarna (ataluren) for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy through its highly specialised technology programme. NICE currently expects to publish its final guidance in February 2016.The National Health Service in England is legally required to fund drugs and treatments recommended in NICE highly specialised technology guidance within three months of its final guidance being issued. In the absence of guidance from NICE, it is for commissioners to make decisions on whether to fund medicines based on an assessment of the available evidence.

Mental Health Services: Children

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to (a) reduce waiting times for children to receive an assessment for a mental health condition and (b) address the disparity between those waiting times across different NHS mental health trusts.

Alistair Burt: Waiting times are not currently collected centrally, however the Government accepts there is variation in waiting times and is committed to improving access and is introducing the first ever waiting time standards for mental health services.These include an access and waiting time standard for Children and Young People with an Eating Disorder. This states that National Institute of Health and Care Excellence concordant treatment should commence within a maximum of four weeks from first contact with a designated healthcare professional for routine cases and within one week for urgent cases. Data collected in 2016 will help inform incremental percentage increases in compliance with the standard, with the aim of 95% of patients being treated within the standard’s timescale by 2020.We have also introduced an access and waiting times standard on Early Intervention in Psychosis announced in Mental health services: achieving better access by 2020 which came into force in April 2015. Whilst focused on all ages, most individuals experiencing a first episode of psychosis are in the 16-25 age group.The setting of a blanket access and waiting time standard for children and young people’s mental health services is not feasible due to the wide range of conditions, services and care pathways this covers. However, NHS England will be working with partner organisations to lead work on the development of further access and waiting time standards for children’s mental health as part of the transformation programme on children and young people’s mental health.At a local level, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have worked with local partners to produce Local Transformation Plans for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing that will set out how they will improve support for children and young people in line with the vision in Future in mind. In addition, CCGs have legal duty to consider the need to reduce inequalities in access to, and outcomes from healthcare services, and we would expect commissioners to have due regard to waiting times as part of this.The new Mental Health Services Dataset will begin from January 2016, to provide data for both adults and children on outcomes, length of treatment, the source of referral, location of appointment and demographic information.

Anaemia

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment his Department has made of the appropriate frequency with which people with pernicious anaemia should receive vitamin B12 replacement injections; what the guidelines are for GPs on granting requests by individual patients for injections to be administered more frequently than prescribed; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment his Department has made of the reliability of diagnostic tests for pernicious anaemia.

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the benefits of allowing easier access to vitamin B12.

Jane Ellison: Pernicious anaemia is a particular type of anaemia caused by lack of vitamin B12. When pernicious anaemia is diagnosed, most patients respond well to treatment through quarterly intramuscular injection of vitamin B12. Whilst some patients with pernicious anaemia might prefer to have more frequent injections, or for other forms of vitamin B12 to be self-administered, these are matters for individual patients to discuss with their general practitioners (GPs). It is for clinicians, not the Department, to specify regimes of clinical care.The Department has made no specific assessment of the benefits of allowing easier access to vitamin B12. Any patients with pernicious anaemia who have concerns about their treatment should discuss this matter with their GP.The treatment of pernicious anaemia is well established and reported in the British Committee for Standards in Haematology (BCSH) document, Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Cobalamin and Folate disorders, which was updated in May 2014. The BCSH operates independently of Department and NHS England. Cobalamin status is the recommended first line diagnostic test and is widely available. The guidance states that the clinical picture is the most important factor in assessing the significance of the test results. The guidelines can be found at the following link: www.bcshguidelines.comCurrent clinical practice within the United Kingdom is to treat pernicious anaemia with Vitamin B12 intramuscular injections. The BCSH produces evidence based guidelines for both clinical and laboratory haematologists on the diagnosis and treatment of haematological disease, drawing on the advice of expert consultants and clinical scientists practicing in the United Kingdom.

Health: Males

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to change attitudes to personal health issues among men.

Jane Ellison: We recognise that men do not seek medical help as often as women, and their health can suffer as a result and that changing their behaviours could reduce premature death, illness and costs to society. The Department does not have a separate policy approach to men’s health as all policy subjects are expected to take into account equality issues as they are developed.In 2013, Public Health England was established to protect and improve the nation’s health and to address inequalities, working with national and local government, the National Health Service, industry, academia, the public and the voluntary and community sector. Local authorities are responsible for assessing the current and future health needs of their local population and targeting of interventions to reduce health inequalities. We have also given local authorities the flexibility to innovate and tailor services to meet local individual and population needs.

Mental Illness

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will respond to the Cabinet Office funded report relating to early deaths among people with mental health problems.

Alistair Burt: We know that people with severe mental illness can die 15-20 years earlier than the general population and that for too long this particular health inequality has had insufficient attention paid to it. We have committed NHS England through the NHS Mandate to take action to reduce premature death for people with mental illness. We are also investing more than ever before in mental health services, we have put into legislation that mental health should have equal priority to physical health and we are improving access to services by implementing the first ever waiting times for mental health services.We will consider the findings of the report and respond in due course.

Mental Health Services: Finance

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that CCGs do not reduce expenditure on mental health budgets to cover deficits in the acute hospital sector.

Alistair Burt: NHS England has made a requirement of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in the planning guidance for 2015/16, The Forward View Into Action: Planning Guidance for 2015/16, that each CCG’s spending on mental health services in 2015/16 should increase in real terms, and grow by at least as much as each CCG’s overall funding allocation increase.CCGs are required to submit their spending plans and their annual accounts to NHS England. NHS England reviews spending, including for mental health, through the CCG assurance process.

Mental Illness: LGBT People

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to address the higher incidence of mental illness among young LGBT people.

Alistair Burt: In line with guidance published by NHS England in August, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have produced Local Transformation Plans (LTPs) for children and young people’s mental health with their local partners as proposed in Future in Mind. These include plans for how CCGs will ensure that the needs of all vulnerable groups are met locally, including the needs of those with protected characteristics. This includes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) children and young people. In addition, the guidance issued by NHS England in August made specific reference to the need to promote equality and address health inequalities in the LTPs.While Future in Mind did not specifically mention LGBT teens as a vulnerable group, the Vulnerable Groups and Inequalities Task and Finish group Report, one of four task and finish group reports published alongside Future in Mind, did specifically mention and consider LGBT children and young people.CCGs have a legal duty to have regard to tackling health inequalities including inequalities in mental health when planning how they will commission services.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Mental Illness

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on support for people with mental health conditions who claim jobseeker's allowance.

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on ensuring that mental health is removed as an obstacle to entering the workplace.

Alistair Burt: Ministers at the Department of Health and Department for Work and Pensions met on 3 June and agreed to greater cross government working between our respective Departments. Following that meeting, the Department of Health and Department for Work and Pensions Work and Health Unit was created to improve the health and employment outcomes of benefit claimants. Next year, the unit will launch a range of voluntary mental health and employment pilots to support working age individuals with or at risk of developing a mental health condition retain and return to employment.We know that people come into contact with the welfare system at a time when they may be vulnerable because of unemployment and its associated consequences. The Department for Work and Pensions provides guidance and training for staff to help them identify and support people who may be vulnerable.

Department of Health: Lobbying

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will assess the extent to which grants made by his Department to third parties are used for activities designed to influence his Department, other departments or Parliament.

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the incidence of his Department giving grants to organisations which subsequently use the money to try to influence (a) his and (b) other Government departments.

Alistair Burt: Funding applications from voluntary sector organisations are assessed against a number of criteria, but Departmental policy clearly states that grants will not be awarded if there is any indication within the application that some or all of any funding awarded will be used to support political activities, including political lobbying activity.It remains an important objective of the Department’s partnership with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector that they contribute their voice and expertise to national policy making and implementation, and grant awards can support this objective.However, analysis of each individual grant awarded by the Department to ascertain the impact of this objective would be at disproportionate cost.

Doctors: Emigration

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many doctors trained in the UK emigrated in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2013 and (d) 2014; and what assessment he has made of the effect such emigration has had on the provision of emergency medicine.

Ben Gummer: This information is not collected centrally.

Doctors: Migrant Workers

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of doctors working in hospitals are from non-UK countries.

Ben Gummer: The Health and Social Care Information Centre collects data on the number of doctors working in National Health Service hospital and community health services in England.Nationality is a self-reported field within the electronic staff record system and of the 98,894 full time equivalent number of doctors (not including locums) who declared their nationality 25,607 (25.6%) are non-United Kingdom nationals.

Mental Health: Older People

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to reduce loneliness and isolation for elderly people through increased contact during transitional care.

Alistair Burt: Prevention is core to the Government’s approach to people managing their health and care needs. My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health set out in his speech to the Local Government Association on 1 July that we all have a responsibility at an individual, family, and community level to identify people with care needs such as loneliness and provide support and improve their wellbeing.Through the Care Act 2014 the Department has required local authorities to have measures in place to identify people in their area who would benefit from universal services to help reduce, delay or prevent needs for care and support. This includes needs that may arise from social isolation.Given the complexity of loneliness and the different ways that people are affected there is no single solution that can tackle loneliness and having a range of interventions and solutions is helpful, and commissioners can consider how loneliness can be tackled when a person is transitioning between services.The Department has supported a ‘digital toolkit’ for local commissioners, which was developed by the Campaign to End Loneliness, and is now incorporated in their guidance Loneliness and Isolation: Guidance for Local Authorities and Commissioners. This supports commissioners in understanding, mapping and commissioning for loneliness and social isolation in their communities, and includes promising approaches to tackling loneliness.The Department has funded the Social Care Institute for Excellence to develop and run the Prevention Library which includes examples of emerging practice to prevent, reduce or delay peoples care and support needs from deteriorating. This includes examples of integrated working such as the Social Prescribing Scheme in Rotherham.

Prisons: Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many mental health in-patient units and beds there have been in English prisons in each year since 2010.

Ben Gummer: Whilst healthcare wings within some prisons provide 24 hour health care, beds within these units are not specifically designated for mental health and may be used by prisoners with a range of physical or mental health problems.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Manufacturing Industries: Employment

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in the (a) steel industry and (b) energy efficiency, solar and low-carbon heating industries at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Anna Soubry: The ONS Business Registers and Employment Survey provides figures for the number of jobs in manufacture of primary iron and steel in 2014, the latest year for which official figures are available.In March 2015 the Government published a report on ‘The size and performance of the UK low carbon economy’ which contains estimates for the number of jobs supported by various low carbon sectors. The estimates can be found on the ONS and GOV.UK websites.

Aerospace Industry

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the ability of the UK aerospace industry to meet demand for new aircraft over the next 15 years.

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make an assessment of the likely demand for new UK-manufactured aircraft over the next 15 years.

Anna Soubry: The latest Airbus Global Market Forecast identifies a need for more than 32,500 new large passenger and freighter aircraft, worth a total of $4.9trillion by 2034. In addition, there is an estimated requirement for 24,000 new business jets, 5,800 regional aircraft and 40,000 helicopters by 2032, worth around $500bn. (Source: ADS) The Government is working with the UK aerospace industry, through the Aerospace Growth Partnership, to ensure the UK sector has the capability and capacity to secure maximum benefit from this growth opportunity. A range of industry-led action is under way, supported where appropriate by Government, to increase the productivity and competitiveness of UK suppliers; and develop the product and manufacturing technologies required to meet future market demands.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Families

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many of his Department's policies have been assessed against the family test; what steps he has taken to publish the outcome of such assessments that have been carried out; and if he will make a statement.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to implement the family test.

Anna Soubry: The Family Test was announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014.The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills welcomed the introduction of the Family Test and has taken steps to embed it by building it into the Department’s Public Sector Equality Duty commitments. All family test assessments are documented and publication considered where significant impact is identified.The Family Test is an integral part of the policy making process and is applied in a proportionate way in the development of all new policy in line with the Family Test guidance, published by the Department for Work and Pensions -https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/368894/family-test-guidance.pdfAs stated in the guidance, there is no requirement to publish Family Test assessments.

Students: Loans

Roger Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the level of awareness among potential students of the availability in England of loans for part-time higher education study.

Joseph Johnson: The Government asked Universities UK to undertake a review of part-time study www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/highereducation/Documents/2013/PowerOfPartTime.pdf. This report found some misunderstanding about the new student finance system for part time students. The Department has developed marketing materials aimed at part time students and these are made available through further education colleges as part of the annual Student Finance Tour. Since the new non-means tested part time fee loans were introduced in 2012 the number of students taking out loans has risen from 34,000 in 2012/13 to 55,000 in 2013/14.

Higher Education: Dyslexia

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to improve the provision of education for and support offered to dyslexic students in higher education outwith the provision of disabled students' allowances.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to promote joint work between special needs assessors and disability advisers within universities on ensuring that appropriate support is given and provision made for disabled students and for students with dyslexia.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that higher education institutions make appropriate provision for disabled students who do not have complex needs.

Joseph Johnson: Higher education institutions are responsible for meeting their legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010, including for students with dyslexia.The legal duty to provide reasonable adjustments applies to all disabled students. In addition Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs) are available where the needs of the student cannot be met by the institution by way of such a reasonable adjustment. A consultation on DSAs closed on 24 September and the Government response will be published in due course.

Graduates: Dyslexia

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what data his Department holds on the (a) employment rate and (b) income of graduates with dyslexia in comparison with people with dyslexia who did not attend university.

Joseph Johnson: The Department publishes statistics on labour market conditions for English domiciled graduates and postgraduates relative to non-graduates as part of the Graduate Labour Market Statistics series. The latest figures refer to the quarter from April to June 2015 and are available at the link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/graduate-labour-market-statistics-april-to-june-2015These statistics cannot be disaggregated to the level of detail requested.

Apprentices: Dyslexia

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of apprentices who failed to complete their training in the last five years were apprentices with dyslexia.

Nick Boles: We use success rates to show the proportion of learners who start an apprenticeship and go on to achieve it. Success rates are published as percentages rather than volumes. This information by self-declared learning difficulty is published in the Statistical First Release Equality and Diversity tables (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-equality-and-diversity). The tables cover the five years between 2008/09 and 2012/13, when the success rate for the cohort of apprentices with dyslexia was 68.4%. We will publish data for 2013/14 in the near future.

Apprentices: Dyslexia

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what data his Department collects on the (a) number of apprenticeship providers which provide support to apprentices who have been assessed as dyslexic and (b) quality of that support.

Nick Boles: Information on the number of providers that support apprentices who have self-declared a learning difficulty, including dyslexia, is collected through the Individualised Learner Record. We publish data showing the proportion of further education learners who have self-declared a learning difficulty or disability for individual providers in a supplementary table to our Statistical First Release: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-local-authority-tables. We do not publish this information specifically for apprentices or broken down to the individual type of learning difficulty or disability.Ofsted inspects apprenticeship providers and reports on overall performance including equality and diversity. The Common Inspection Framework requires inspectors to pay particular attention to the outcomes for disabled children and learners and those who have special educational needs. In addition, inspectors evaluate the extent to which leaders, managers and governors actively promote equality and diversity, tackle bullying and discrimination and narrow any gaps in achievement between different groups of children and learners.

Qualifications: Dyslexia

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that people with dyslexia obtain functional skills qualifications.

Nick Boles: The Department enables providers to remove barriers to education and training, and aids progression to higher levels of training, by funding additional learning support to help all eligible learners with an identified support need. The support for those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, including dyslexia, is an important part of the support the government provides to help individuals maximise their potential and gain employment.The Education and Training Foundation will consult with a range of organisations, including those representing learners with particular needs, as part of the programme of reform to English and maths Functional Skills launched last month.

Apprentices: Dyslexia

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what data his Department collects on the number of apprentices who have dyslexia.

Nick Boles: Information on Apprenticeship participation and success rates by individuals with dyslexia is collected through the Individualised Learner Record and is published in the Equality and Diversity tables (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-equality-and-diversity alongside the Statistical First Release (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/learner-participation-outcomes-and-level-of-highest-qualification-held).Learning Difficulties, including dyslexia, are based on self-declaration by the learner.

Apprentices

Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will exempt companies which show a serious and sustained commitment to measurable and successful training from additional application and reporting requirements under the apprenticeship grant scheme.

Nick Boles: The Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) is a £1,500 grant per apprentice payable to eligible businesses with fewer than 50 employees who hire an apprentice aged 16 to 24.To minimise burdens on employers, AGE is claimed through the training provider.AGE funding has been devolved to some city regions as part of increasing local decision-making powers.

Higher Education: Admissions

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many and what proportion of children in need (a) applied to and (b) entered university in the most recent years for which figures are available.

Joseph Johnson: Data published by UCAS show that young people from the most disadvantaged areas in England were more likely to enter higher education in 2014 than ever before, and the latest figures for 2015 show that the application rate was at a record level.Acceptances and entry rates1 for 18 year olds from the most disadvantaged areas2 in EnglandYear of entry200920102011201220132014AcceptancesN/A19,13019,92019,89021.18022,980Entry rate13.6%14.0%15.0%15.1%16.4%18.2%Source: UCAS end of cycle report December 2014. Comparable figures for 2015 will be published in December. N/A = not available.Application rates3 for 18 year olds from the most disadvantaged areas2 in EnglandYear of entry201020112012201320142015Application rate18.0%18.6%17.9%18.9%20.4%21.0%Source: UCAS application rate report January 2015.1. The entry rate is the percentage of the 18 year old population accepted into higher education through UCAS.2. Quintile 1 of the POLAR indicator. The POLAR classification developed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) classifies small areas across the UK into five groups according to their level of young participation (entry at age 18 or 19) in higher education. Each of these groups represents around 20 per cent of young people and are ranked from quintile 1 (areas with the lowest young participation rates, considered as the most disadvantaged) to quintile 5 (highest young participation rates, considered most advantaged).3. The application rate is the percentage of the 18 year old population who apply to higher education via UCAS.

Directors: Misconduct

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what legislative provision exists to ensure that directors responsible for misconduct can be appropriately dealt with.

Anna Soubry: Where companies enter formal insolvency, there are powers under the Company Director’s Disqualification Act for the Secretary of State to apply to the court for the disqualification of directors who are found to be responsible for misconduct. Disqualification is a civil restriction which bars an individual from being appointed as a director, or being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company for a period of between 2 and 15 years. Contravention of a disqualification is a criminal offence which may lead to prosecution and civil penalty.That Act provides other grounds for disqualification of up to 15 years following misconduct in relation to companies not necessarily subject to insolvency proceedings, including disqualification on conviction of an indictable offence, for repeated breaches of company legislation and following investigations under the Companies Act.In addition to disqualification, there are a number of criminal offences in the Insolvency Act for misconduct related to Insolvency, and other offences particularly in the Companies Act and Fraud Act.

Students: Finance

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to improve the retention of students who have the potential to succeed in higher education but face financial difficulties.

Joseph Johnson: Continuation rates for students in publicly-funded institutions are at a record high, with 94.3% of young full-time first degree entrants to higher education in English HEIs in 2012/13 continuing after their first year and, 90.0% of full-time first degree starters of all ages in English HEIs in 2012/13 were expected to receive an award or transfer. Improvements in these areas have come at a time of considerable expansion in student numbers and increasing diversity in the backgrounds of students.Institutions wishing to charge higher fees must agree access agreements with the independent Director of Fair Access. In these, institutions set out what more they will do to attract students from disadvantaged backgrounds and help them to complete their studies and progress to post-graduate study or employment. In 2016/17, institutions expect to spend £425m on financial support through their access agreements.The Higher Education Green Paper set out further steps to encourage universities to improve retention rates, including for students from disadvantaged and under-represented groups, through a Teaching Excellence Framework.

Students: Finance

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department plans to measure the (a) educational, (b) labour market and (c) societal outcomes of student opportunity allocation funding using individual-based data on a national level.

Joseph Johnson: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) recently published its policy framework for the student opportunity allocation: 'Delivering opportunities for students and maximising their success' which can be found at the following link: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/year/2015/201514/. This set out its expectation that new initiatives will only be funded where they have robust evaluation plans in place, including the application of suitable research methods and the appropriate use of individual and national level data. HEFCE also plans to develop a framework setting out the outcomes against which the HE sector will be expected to demonstrate the impact and effectiveness of its work. It is envisaged this will include a range of educational, labour market and, where possible, wider societal outcomes.

Postgraduate Education

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with the higher education sector on extending the new postgraduate loans scheme to part-time taught masters students aged over 30.

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how he plans for part-time taught masters students who study at a minimum of 50 per cent intensity, but not by means of distance learning, to access the proposed new postgraduate loans scheme.

Joseph Johnson: A consultation on support for postgraduate study was launched in March of this year. The consultation sought views on the Government’s intention to introduce a new loan scheme for taught Master’s study and a review of how to broaden and strengthen support for postgraduate research. Consultation responses have been analysed and the Department is preparing its response.

Clothing: Children

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of product safety guidance for manufacturers of children's fancy dress costumes; and what assessment he has made of the effect on safety of retailers classifying such costumes as toys rather than clothing.

Anna Soubry: I am satisfied that existing guidance for manufacturers of children’s fancy dress costumes on compliance with the appropriate product safety legislation is adequate.I am also satisfied that the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 include robust requirements that provide for a high level of protection of children. However, Trading Standards are currently undertaking a major assessment of the state of the UK market and the compliance of fancy dress costumes with the relevant European Standard (BS EN71-2). In addition, the British Standards Institution is considering whether the Standard still reflects best practice or should be improved. This will include consideration of testing methods used for fabrics in other consumer products.

Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many times the working groups on (a) public procurement, (b) international comparisons and (c) competitiveness and productivity have met since the Steel Summit on 16 October 2015; and what the actions and outcomes of each of those groups has been since their formation.

Anna Soubry: There have been three meetings of the International Comparisons Working Group, which has been examining the application of EU state aid rules in other EU member states and the issue of dumping of steel into the EU. A review of how other EU countries support their steel sectors showed that the UK was not missing an opportunity to provide assistance within the existing rules. It has also helped strengthen the partnership between industry and government, including on the evidence base on dumping of steel.The Competitiveness and Productivity Working Group, which has met twice under the chairmanship of my Noble Friend Lord O’Neill of Gatley, has held discussions with steel industry representatives on the regulatory regime, energy costs and business taxation issues, as well as looking at broader issues around the future competitiveness of the steel industry. My Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister has already announced on 28th October during Prime Ministers Questions that we are, subject to state aid clearance, bringing forward compensation for the costs of Renewables Obligation for Energy Intensive Industries and have confirmed the steel industry will be able to take advantage of the available flexibilities under the Industrial Emissions Directive.The Steel Procurement Working Group, chaired by my Rt Hon Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office, has met twice, looking at how better to take account of socio-economic considerations in procurement, at achieving better transparency of the pipeline of steel needs in future infrastructure projects, and at steel standards. Following the first meeting, the Government published on 30 October new guidelines for departments to apply on major projects when sourcing and buying steel. The new instructions will help steel suppliers compete on a level playing field with international suppliers for major government projects.

Higher Education: Part-time Education

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which of the proposals in Higher education: teaching excellence, social mobility and student choice, published by his Department on 6 November 2015 are intended to enhance part-time higher education.

Joseph Johnson: Proposals in the Green Paper, ‘Fulfilling our Potential: Teaching Excellence, Social Mobility and Student Choice’ will benefit both full-time and part-time higher education. Through the Teaching Excellence Framework all students will get better value for money and have more information about the courses they are applying for. Our proposals on social mobility and widening participation will apply to all students and creating a competitive, well regulated higher education system will benefit current and prospective part-time students as well as full-time.We have taken steps to support part-time students including introducing non-means tested fee loans and extending loans for those already holding a degree to students wishing to retrain in engineering, technology and computer science. We continue to examine what more we can do to support part-time and are engaging actively with the sector on this issue.

Students: Loans

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will amend the criteria by which some students without permanent residence may be entitled to a student loan to reflect the judgement of the Supreme Court in the case of R v Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (2015) UKSC 57.

Joseph Johnson: On 16 September 2015 the Department published details of an interim policy in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling of 29 July 2015 (on the application of Tigere) (Appellant) v Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (respondent) 2015 UKSC57.We intend to consult shortly on amending the relevant Regulations.

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement on (a) the UK economy as a whole, (b) each region and nation of the UK's economy, (c) each business sector in the UK economy, (d) large UK businesses and (e) UK SMEs.

Anna Soubry: An independent assessment of the potential economic impact of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on the UK as a whole was carried out by the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR). The CEPR analysis includes an assessment of the impact on twenty broad sectors of the economy, with estimated impacts on output, trade and shifts in employment. This can be found on the GOV.UK website.The CEPR assessment demonstrated that TTIP offers an enormous economic benefit: in growth, exports and high quality jobs, worth up to £10 billion a year. Small businesses in particular will benefit from removing unnecessary barriers to trade.

Infrastructure: Research

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the document Fixing the Foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation, Cm 9098, what the evidential basis is for funding to UK Collaboration for Research in Infrastructure and Cities increasing productivity.

Joseph Johnson: As discussed in the “Fixing the foundations” document, long term investment in economic infrastructure is key to raising productivity[1].The aim of the UK Collaboratorium for Research in Infrastructure & Cities (UKCRIC) is to coordinate research in UK cities and promote collaboration between disciplines and across sectors, boosting industrial engagement and helping to develop future infrastructure.[1] HM Treasury (2015) “Fixing the foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation” https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/443898/Productivity_Plan_web.pdf

Emerging Industry Action Group

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what progress has been made by the Emerging Industry Action Group.

Anna Soubry: The Emerging Industry Action Group for the sharing economy held its first meeting on 12th November 2015. Businesses from across the sector have agreed to participate in the group and attended the meeting to set out their views on the key challenges and opportunities for both businesses and the Government in making the UK one of the best places to start and grow a sharing economy business.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people were recruited to the (a) army, (b) Royal Air Force, (c) Royal Navy and (d) reserve forces in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Mr Philip Dunne: The following tables show the number of people recruited into each Service of the Armed Forces in Northern Ireland in each of the last five financial years (FY).Royal Navy: Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Marine (RM) personnel recruited through Armed Forces Career Office, Northern IrelandFY2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-15Regular (RN and RM)4040456045Reserve (RNR and RMR)3520252520Army FY2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-15Regular250290270200200Reserve1903802809090Note: information is based on the post code on the applicants contact address. RAF: Regular Other Ranks Recruitment through Armed Forces Careers Office, BelfastFY2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-15Other Ranks1010102020Note: Information relating to Officer and Aircrew recruitment in Northern Ireland is not available.RAF Reserve Recruitment FY2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-15Reserves~--20*60*Note:~ = Information not available.*= estimated figures.Figures have been rounded to 10. Numbers ending in 5 are rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to avoid systematic bias.The data on Reserves supersedes the estimated figures for the Royal Navy and the Army provided on 20 October 2015 by my hon. Friend the Minister for Reserves (Julian Brazier) in response to Question 11479 to the hon. Member for East Antrim (Sammy Wilson).

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in what ways the UK's military mission in Afghanistan is contributing to the protection of civilian Hazaras.

Penny Mordaunt: The UK's military mission in Afghanistan, as part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission, is helping train and advise the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, who are responsible for providing security for the entire population of Afghanistan including civilian Hazaras. In particular UK Armed Forces are playing a vital role in mentoring instructors at the Afghan National Army Officer Academy, where the next generation of Afghan military leaders are being taught.

USA: Unmanned Air Vehicles

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans for UK personnel to train at or otherwise attend the new General Atomics unmanned aircraft business park being built in North Dakota.

Penny Mordaunt: A number of options are being developed to meet the training demand for UK Reaper aircrew in the coming years. It is anticipated that initial training for some UK student aircrew will be conducted under contract by General Atomics at their North Dakota facility.

Syria: Unmanned Air Vehicles

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether UK Reapers have been made available for use by the US or other coalition partners in Syria for operations since January 2015.

Penny Mordaunt: No UK Reapers have been flown on missions by US personnel or those of any other Coalition nation in Syria since January 2015. US personnel have operated UK Reaper aircraft a small number of times to aid with the launch and recovery of the aircraft only, not the mission itself. A Memorandum of Understanding has been agreed between the UK and US Air Forces which allows the US to request the use of UK Reaper aircraft to conduct missions and vice versa, though to date this has not occurred. Such use by the US would be subject to UK permissions.

Single Source Regulations Office

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total expenditure was on the Single Source Regulation Office in each quarter since its formation.

Mr Philip Dunne: Total expenditure on the Single Source Regulations Office (SSRO) in financial year (FY) 2014-15 was £2.184 million for setup costs. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) funds the SSRO on an ongoing basis via a Grant in Aid, which is £4.707 million for FY 2015-16. Further details of the expenditure can be found in the published accounts for the SSRO at:www.gov.uk/government/publications/ssros-first-annual-report-and-accounts or by contacting the SSRO directly. From 2017, the SSRO will be jointly funded by MOD and industry.

Armed Forces Covenant

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2015 to Question 428, what progress has been made in ensuring funding from the Armed Forces Covenant (Libor) Fund is distributed across the UK; and which organisations in each region of the UK have benefited from that fund to date.

Mark Lancaster: Further to my answer of 2 June 2015 to Question 428 which detailed the information held centrally by the Ministry of Defence. The final project under the Veterans Accommodation Fund (VAF) was announced on 20 July 2015 and that was for £50,000 to the RAF Benevolent Fund, for replacement windows at Forge House in England. The £40 million VAF and the £35 million LIBOR Fund have now closed.This year saw the implementation of a permanent commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant through a £10 million per annum Covenant Fund, and will be ring-fenced from the UK Defence Budget. Assessments of the first-round of small grants (up to £20,000) are currently taking place and those selected will be announced around the New Year. The deadline for the second round of applications is 17 December 2015.The deadline for expressions of interest for the large grant scheme (£20,000 to £500,000) has now closed. Those projects accepted for round two will also be informed by 26 November 2015, the deadline for stage two applications is 13 January 2016 with stage two decisions communicated by 10 March 2016.Although we welcome applications from across the whole of the UK, these will be selected on the basis of defined criteria. The selection panel is made up of MOD officials, sector experts and representatives from each of the Devolved Administrations.

Single Source Regulations Office

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what role he expects the Single Source Regulation Office to have in the procurement of the Successor class submarine.

Mr Philip Dunne: All contracts related to the Successor programme that meet the conditions set out in Section 2 of the Defence Reform Act will be Qualifying Defence Contracts (QDCs) as defined by the Act and so subject to reporting to the Single Source Regulation Office.

Veterans

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made with the implementation of the recommendations made in Lord Ashcroft's Veterans' Transition Review, published in February 2014.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) resettlement policy is continuously reviewed and the most recent update was issued in October 2015.Good progress has been made against the recommendations made in the Veterans' Transition Review. Of the discrete recommendations 29 are fully in place and considered closed; and a number of remaining recommendations are partially in place with further development planned and time-tabled.The MOD continues to work with a number of charities, and the Government is committed to supporting their work. Actions already delivered include the provision of a 24-hour helpline for veterans, better support for those that leave the Service early so that all Service leavers get the provision they need, financial education for new recruits and better transfer of medical records.The MOD's own Veterans Welfare Service is on the ground in every part of the UK providing one to one help and support to veterans with housing and any other problems they may have. Further work is under way to create a directory of Service charities so it is easier for veterans to find the support they need, and the contract for career transition support has been re-let to ensure it best meets the needs of veterans looking for jobs and training.

Trident

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the cost effectiveness of the Trident programme over the last five years.

Michael Fallon: We regularly review all major programmes to ensure that they operate in the most efficient and effective manner possible. The 2010 Trident Value for Money study and the 2013 Trident Alternatives Review both confirmed the cost effectiveness of a Trident-based deterrent on continuous patrol.

Department for Communities and Local Government

First Time Buyers

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of the starter homes policy on access to (a) home ownership and (b) affordable rented accommodation in (i) London and the South East and (ii) England.

Brandon Lewis: Evidence shows that young first time buyers have been priced out of home ownership. Since the early 1990s, the proportion of under 40s who are homeowners in England has declined by over a third from 62% in 1993/4 to 39% in 2013/14. The Housing and Planning Bill will require local planning authorities to promote Starter Homes and ensure Starter Homes are included on all suitable, reasonably-sized developments in future.

Affordable Housing

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of the extension of Right to Buy on affordable housing supply.

Brandon Lewis: Under the 2012 reinvigorated Right to Buy, every additional home sold, as well as those homes sold to tenants through the voluntary agreement with the National Housing Federation and housing associations, will result in an additional home being provided. This will lead to an increase in overall housing supply.The Government exceeded its affordable homes target over the last 4 years by 16,000 homes, delivering 186,000 new affordable homes.

Environmental Protection: North of England

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to improve the environment as part of the Northern Powerhouse initiative.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to increase access to green space as part of the Northern Powerhouse initiative.

James Wharton: The Northern Powerhouse is about bringing together northern cities and regions to maximise the potential of the North and help drive UK economic growth.We will do this by investing in science and technology, transport, digital and innovation, culture and tourism across the region, alongside devolving power to give the North a powerful new voice, investment and decision-making powers to meet these ambitions. Improving the environment could be a consideration in how we take forward these investments and activities.

Social Rented Housing: Disability

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department publishes to local authorities and housing associations on providing a safe means of exit for disabled residents in the event of an emergency.

James Wharton: The Department worked with the Local Government Association to provide two guidance documents for local authorities, housing associations and other housing providers on keeping residents safe in the event of a fire and on providing safe means of escape. These publications (Housing – Fire Safety and Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats) are both available at: https://www.gov.uk/workplace-fire-safety-your-responsibilities/fire-safety-advice-documents.Government also provides guidance on the requirements under part B of the Building Regulations on design of escape routes in new buildings, available at: http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/buildingregulations/approveddocuments/partb/bcapproveddocumentsb/bcapproveddocbvol1/.

Housing Associations: Rents

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of reductions in rents charged by housing associations on the number of new homes they propose to build.

Brandon Lewis: We have published an assessment of the impact of the rent reduction measures on housing associations, tenants and equality groups and the housing benefit saving resulting from these measures. The assessment can be found at: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006F.pdfThe housing association sector is in a robust financial position, having made a surplus of £2.4 billion in 2014. We expect them to be able to find the necessary efficiencies to manage the reductions.The Government remains committed to delivering 275,000 affordable homes by 2020.

Non-domestic Rates

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of his proposed changes to business rates on (a) Merseyside and (b) the UK.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Government intends to move to 100% business rates retention in England by the end of this Parliament. We have confirmed that as part of the new system there will continue to be redistribution of local tax revenue between authorities and protections in place for authorities that see their business rates income fall significantly. Over the coming months we will be working with local government on the details of the scheme.Ahead of final decisions it is too early to assess what the impact will be on individual areas or authorities, but before the start of the financial year, local authorities in Merseyside estimated that the total business rates income for 2015-16 would be £413.3 million.

HM Treasury

Banks: Iceland

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with representatives from the Icelandic government on debt owed to (a) UK taxpayers and (b) the public purse by Icelandic banks.

Harriett Baldwin: HM Government officials continue to engage with the Icelandic authorities in order to complete the recovery process from the failed Icelandic banks. In total, £8.64 billion was paid out by HM Treasury to compensate UK depositors of the Icelandic banks Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander Ltd (KSF), Heritable Bank plc and Landsbanki (Icesave).All eligible UK retail depositors were fully compensated. To date, the Treasury has recovered £7.71 billion from the three estates. The Government expects to make a full recovery of the outstanding funds from the estates.

Taxation: Self-assessment

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will ensure that all staff in HM Revenue and Customs authorised to cancel late-filing penalties are authorised to provide the person concerned with written confirmation of that cancellation.

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will ensure that all staff in HM Revenue and Customs authorised to cancel late-payment penalties are authorised to provide the person concerned with written confirmation of that cancellation.

Mr David Gauke: All staff in HM Revenue and Customs who are authorised to cancel late-filing penalties and late-payment penalties are also authorised to provide the customer concerned with written confirmation of that cancellation. The process to advise the person of the cancellation may differ between taxes, and the notification may in some cases be on-line rather than in a letter.

Debts: Young People

Jim Shannon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the indebtedness of people aged 18 to 25.

Harriett Baldwin: The government is committed to ensuring that young people can access the support they need in order to make informed financial decisions and avoid problem debt.To ensure that young people leave school with an understanding of personal finance, financial literacy was made part of the secondary school National Curriculum in September 2014; and the mathematics curriculum has also been changed to include topics on financial decisions. This means that for the first time, young people now learn about the importance of budgeting, sound management of money, credit and debt, as well as understanding different financial services and products.The government set up the Money Advice Service (MAS) in 2010 to enhance consumers’ understanding and knowledge of financial matters. MAS provides a single point of debt advice for consumers, including people aged 18-25, and allows those facing problems with debt to obtain free and impartial money advice. MAS also recently launched their nationwide Financial Capability Strategy, which will specifically consider how the needs of young people should inform provision going forward.The government is currently consulting on how the provision of public financial guidance could be made more effective for consumers.

Payment Methods

Adam Afriyie: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to deliver a faster payments infrastructure.

Harriett Baldwin: The Faster Payment Scheme (FPS) launched in 2008 and provides near-instant settlement for over one billion payments that consumers and businesses make every year.FPS is one of the eight payment systems regulated by the new Payment Systems Regulator – which the Government launched in 2015, equipped with powers to ensure that UK payment systems are competitive and innovative. A key part of the PSR’s work is to ensure that UK payment systems work efficiently to deliver benefits for the individuals and firms that use them.The Government is also working with the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Project Innovate – which looks to foster and support innovative financial technology (“FinTech”) firms, including firms that offer customers new and efficient ways to make payments in the UK.

Bank Services

Adam Afriyie: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the availability of bank accounts for (a) crowd funding and (b) digital currency businesses.

Harriett Baldwin: As the Chancellor announced at the Budget in March, the Government intends to bring digital currency exchanges into the scope of anti-money laundering regulation. The digital currency industry has highlighted the current lack of regulation as one of the obstacles firms face when trying to get bank accounts in the UK. The new regulatory regime will be designed to support firms’ access to these vital banking services, and to foster an environment in which legitimate digital currency businesses can flourish in the UK. The Treasury will consult on the detail of regulation shortly.The Government has supported the crowdfunding industry by consulting on whether to extend ISA eligibility to debt and equity crowdfunding and helping equity crowdfunding through the tax efficient Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) – without which 24% of investors say they would not have invested.

Banks

Grahame Morris: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to encourage the growth of stakeholder banks within the UK.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government has taken significant steps to support stakeholder banks. We more commonly refer to stakeholder banks as mutually-owned financial service firms such as credit unions, building societies and mutual savings banks.The Government has encouraged the growth of the credit union sector by increasing the maximum interest rate that credit unions can charge on loans from 2% to 3% per month; investing £38m in the sector through the Department of Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Credit Union Expansion Project; ensuring that universal credit and pensions payments can be paid into any credit union account; and launching a Call for Evidence which allowed all credit unions, regardless of size or influence, the opportunity to contribute their vision for the future of the sector to the wider debate.This Government has supported the building societies sector through a number of initiatives including: carving out building societies from the Independent Commission on Banking’s ring-fencing regulations; extending ISA eligibility to Core Capital Deferred Shares; allowing building societies to create floating charges for the first time; and applying a £25m sector-specific allowance to carried-forward losses for Corporation Tax.The Airdrie Savings Bank is the only remaining example of a mutual savings bank in the UK. At the Summer Budget the government announced that savings banks established under the Savings Bank (Scotland) Act 1819 will benefit from the same £25m carried-forward loss allowance for Corporation Tax as the building society sector. This will be backdated to 1 April 2015 and is being actioned through the Finance Bill 2015.

Banks: Regional Planning and Development

Grahame Morris: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the role of stakeholder banks in supporting regional growth.

Harriett Baldwin: Each quarter the British Bankers Association and the Council for Mortgage Lenders publish data showing the outstanding stock of lending in each postcode. This allows challenger banks, smaller building societies, credit unions and community development finance institutions (CDFIs) to find areas where there is a lack of lending so they can offer finance to those customers and support growth in that regional area.The Government recognises the important role that stakeholder banks play in supporting their communities. We more commonly refer to stakeholder banks as credit unions, building societies and mutually-owned savings banks.

Pensions

Dan Jarvis: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on raising the upper trivial commutation limit for pensions above £30,000.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government currently has no plans to raise the upper trivial commutation limit for pensions above £30,000.The Government believes this is the appropriate level which balances providing individuals with flexibility without placing a significant administrative burden on pension schemes.

Fuels: Smuggling

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of cross border co-operation in reducing the level of fuel laundering.

Damian Hinds: No specific assessment has been made of the effectiveness of cross border co-operation in reducing the level of fuel laundering. However, tax gap figures published on 22 October 2015 in the document at the link below estimates the market share for all illicit diesel in GB mainland as or just under 1%, and 8% in NI for 2013/14. This amounts to about £100m for UK as a whole. Petrol fraud is negligible. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/measuring-tax-gaps  HMRC fights fraud on a wide range of fronts, from special units performing thousands of roadside checks to raiding laundering plants. Additionally, the UK has recently implemented an improved marker for rebated fuel, which will make it much harder to launder marked fuel and sell it at a profit. Ireland has also introduced the same new marker as the UK.HMRC works closely with the Revenue Commissioners in the Republic of Ireland to fight fuel fraud, including regular exchange of information and joint operational activity.

Revenue and Customs: Training

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what training is provided to HM Revenue and Customs staff to prepare them for handling applications for allowable expenses for ministers of religion; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs staff receive training on handling expenses claims from a range of customers. This includes training and guidance on how to handle claims from specific customer groups and professions, including ministers of religion.

Revenue and Customs: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to ensure that section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is taken into account in decisions about the future of HM Revenue and Customs offices in Northern Ireland.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) fully recognises its legislative commitments to Northern Ireland. As part of the planning to move to regional centres, it will comply with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Infrastructure

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many projects, of what value, have received investment through the Pensions Infrastructure Platform in (a) 2015 and (b) since the platform's launch.

Greg Hands: The Pensions Infrastructure Platform (PIP) is a vehicle for encouraging pension funds to invest in infrastructure. It does this by establishing special purpose infrastructure investment funds that are designed to meet the needs of pension funds. The PIP is owned by the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) with investment from pension funds.Two funds have been launched so far through the PIP. The first fund was launched in 2014 and is managed by Dalmore Capital with a remit to invest in UK PPP/PFI project equity. The fund has currently raised £508m commitments of a £600m target. The second PIP fund is a domestic solar PV fund managed by Aviva, it was launched in February 2015 and has commitments of £131mn and a target of £250mn.

Economic and Monetary Union: Economic Growth

Andrew Rosindell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the effect on the UK economy of the 0.3 per cent reduction in eurozone economic growth in quarter 3 2015.

Harriett Baldwin: Euro area GDP grew by 0.3% (quarter-on-quarter) in the third quarter of 2015. The UK is one of the most open economies in the world, with significant trade and financial links with other countries. UK export performance is highly dependent on the economic performance of the euro area, the UK’s largest trading partner. The global economic recovery remains uneven and the risks from the world economy, not least from within the euro area, demonstrate the need to continue to fix the economy to ensure the UK can deal with risks from abroad.

Homelessness

Gavin Robinson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will ringfence spending on the Homelessness Prevention Grant until 2020 in the Spending Review.

Greg Hands: From 2013-14 support for preventing homelessness has been included in the annual Local Government Finance Settlement, split between Revenue Support Grant and estimated retained business rates.Revenue Support Grant and retained business rates are not ring-fenced. It is up to individual authorities to decide how grant funding should be spent in order to deliver local services.The Chancellor will set out full details of the Spending Review on Wednesday 25 November.

Transport: Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Alex Cunningham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the air quality benefits of using liquefied petroleum gas in transport to inform its taxation policies.

Damian Hinds: The Government recognises that there are environmental benefits to Liquefied Petroleum Gas and other road fuel gases compared to petrol and diesel, and as a consequence fuel duty on such fuels is much lower than the main rate – with a 39.79 pence per litre duty differential.

Productivity

Seema Malhotra: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the document Fixing the Foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation Cm 9098, what the evidential basis is for proposed reforms to tax credits increasing productivity.

Damian Hinds: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on [20] November 2015, PQ 16701.

Department for Transport

Personal Income

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the relationship between household income and (a) taxi and (b) bus use.

Andrew Jones: The number of trips and distance travelled per person per year for different household income levels (based on data for households in England in 2014) are given in the table.Household income is gross equivalised income, which accounts for household size and composition.Real household income quintileLowest real income levelSecond levelThird levelFourth levelHighest real income levelAll income levelsTrips per person per year by main mode:Local and non-local buses967253433560Taxi/minicab1411991010Distance (miles) per person per year by main mode:Local and non-local buses465407308251193326Taxi/minicab614342518556

Aviation: Egypt

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions the Government has had with (a) the Egyptian authorities, (b) airlines and (c) other national and international bodies on changes to the allocation of slots for flights arriving and leaving Sharm el-Sheikh airport.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Both the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have been in regular liaison, and worked in partnership, with the Egyptian authorities to agree the allocation of slots for UK aircraft at Sharm-el-Sheikh since the temporary resumption of UK-bound flights on 6 November. As is the usual practice, UK airlines have agreed the slot timetables directly with the Egyptian authorities for the flights being arranged. Both the FCO and DfT spoke with other national bodies at Sharm-el–Sheikh on the overall initial allocation.

Taxis: Crime Prevention

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of private hire vehicles illegally plying for hire.

Andrew Jones: The Government is responsible for the legislative structure within which local licensing authorities deliver the licensing regime for taxis and private hire vehicles. Enforcement of the licensing regime, including ensuring that private hire vehicles do not illegally ply for hire, is therefore a matter for local licensing authorities and the police.

Taxis

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on introducing a statutory definition of plying for hire in the taxi and private hire vehicle industry.

Andrew Jones: As part of the process of considering all the recommendations in the Law Commission’s report on reforming taxi and private hire vehicle legislation, my Department is continuing to discuss the proposals with colleagues in other Government departments.The Government will formally respond to the Law Commission and announce its intentions in due course.

British Nationals Abroad: Egypt

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure consistent and comprehensive communications by tour companies and airlines with UK nationals in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the total number of passengers travelling independently through flight-only sales or independent bookings that have been affected by recent restrictions on UK-bound flights from Sharm el-Sheikh airport; and what steps the Government has taken to support those passengers.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department for Transport has been in constant contact with tour companies and airlines operating in Sharm-el-Sheikh. All have been working in collaboration to ensure that information on flights to the UK has been provided to UK nationals on a timely basis, supported by travel advice issued through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who have also been providing consular assistance on the ground. Since flights restarted on Friday 6 November 2015, over 16,000 passengers have returned to the UK. This includes those that travelled independently, for example on a flight only basis. Flights on 17 November saw the return of all UK nationals that wished to do so.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November to Question 13665, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of the proposal from High Speed UK on high speed rail.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The proposals suggested by High Speed UK are similar to the Reverse ‘E’ considered by HS2 Ltd in their 2010 report submitted to the Government on the demand and business case analysis of the alternative proposals. It was considered that this proposal could not offer better journey times from London/Birmingham to Manchester/Liverpool than HS2 trains continuing to the north-west from Lichfield via the West Coast Main Line. The Environmental Statement for the Proposed Scheme, which was prepared to accompany the deposit of the Bill, addressed the history of route alternatives and our ongoing consultation and engagement. Ministers considered the advice presented and views from a wide range of sources, and based on the evidence the decision was taken to proceed with the ‘Y’ shaped network.

Taxis

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2015 to Question 5604, when he expects to provide a full response to the Law Commission's report on a statutory definition of plying for hire for the taxi and private hire industry.

Andrew Jones: In its comprehensive review of taxi and private hire legislation, the Law Commission considered creating a statutory definition of plying for hire. However, after careful consideration the Law Commission recommended an alternative approach that would make it unlawful for anyone other than a local taxi driver to accept a hiring ‘there and then’.The Government is currently considering all the recommendations in the Law Commission’s report. The Government will formally respond to the Law Commission and announce its intentions once this scrutiny is completed.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas: Excise Duties

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with HM Treasury on the removal of the fuel duty escalator for liquefied petroleum gas as part of government proposals to reduce emissions from road transport.

Andrew Jones: Ministers and officials meet regularly with HM Treasury on a wide range of issues.

A303: Dual Carriageways

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the expected level of increased traffic (a) noise, (b) pollution in Chicklade as a result of the dualling of the A303 at Stonehenge.

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the increase in (a) traffic and (b) HGV traffic on the A303 at Chicklade in each year to 2030.

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the expected cost of dualling the A303 from Wylye to Mere.

Andrew Jones: The Government announced in December 2014 that we intend to upgrade all remaining sections of the A303 between the M3 and the A358 to dual carriageway standard, together with creating a dual carriageway link from the M5 at Taunton to the A303, as part of a long-term commitment to creating a new Expressway to the South West. We intend to start this process with three major improvements, as part of a total A303 / A30 / A358 corridor package of commitments worth £2 billion:Amesbury to Berwick DownSparkford to IlchesterA358 Southfields to M5 TauntonAfter previous attempts to improve the A303 have been shelved, the Government is determined to finally deliver this scheme.Information on the future level of traffic on the A303 was published in the A303/A30/A358 Corridor Feasibility Study published in February 2015 (at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/road-investment-strategy#feasibility-studies).The study did not identify separate figures for Chicklade at this early stage of development. However, the study provides projections for 2021, 2031 and 2041 for the corridor between the A350 and A36 which includes Chicklade.The study includes the cost of the whole A303 route improvement. The dualling of the A303 from Wylye to Mere was investigated in the study as two separate schemes: Chicklade Bottom to Mere with an estimated cost of between £199m to £293m; and Wylye to Stockton Wood. There is no separate estimate for Wylye to Stockton Wood.Due to the early stage of the schemes development it is too early to provide estimates of traffic noise and pollution in Chicklade from the proposed dualling the A303 at Stonehenge.

Bus Services: Visual Impairment

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to improve access to buses for blind and partially-sighted people.

Andrew Jones: I understand how important affordable and accessible bus services are too many visually impaired people, and Government continues to support initiatives to improve access.By January 2017 all local and scheduled buses designed to carry more than twenty-two passengers must comply with the Passenger Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR), which include the provision of low floor boarding facilities, colour-contrasting step edges and handholds, and priority seating. We also encourage the bus industry to increase the uptake of audio-visual systems, and have supported projects to design innovative and low-cost approaches to providing accessible on-board information.Further, Government remains committed to maintaining the national concession , which provides almost a million disabled people with free off-peak bus travel throughout England, helping them to remain mobile without worrying about the cost of doing so.

Transport: Industrial Disputes

Ben Howlett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the value of economic output lost as a result of industrial action in the transport sector in each of the last three years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Industrial action in the transport sector has significant and serious disruptive impacts to the country. Indicative analysis undertaken by the Department for Transport to understand the potential immediate costs to the wider economy from a one-off 24 hour National Rail Strike estimated those costs to be around £80million.

Heathrow Airport

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2015 to Question 15131, what discussions the Government has had with Heathrow Airport on the mitigation measures proposed for Heathrow expansion in the Airport Commission's final report; what information the Government has received from Heathrow Airport in response to those discussions; and what account the Government will take of the response from Heathrow Airport in reaching a final decision.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Airports Commission’s final report proposed a package of potential mitigation measures for all major UK airports as well as specific ones for Heathrow. Separately from its consideration of the evidence set out in the Airports Commission’s Final Report, the Government is also engaging in discussions with all three of the scheme promoters shortlisted in the Airports Commission’s Interim Report in order to understand the likely timescales, risks and dependencies associated with delivering each of the three schemes. The Government has yet to decide on the need for additional airport capacity and will not make any decisions on the next steps until it has considered the large amount of very detailed analysis contained in the Airports Commission’s final report.

Department for Transport: Public Expenditure

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether (a) his Department and (b) its agencies plan to review their estates as a result of spending reductions agreed with HM Treasury.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government will provide full details of the Spending Review outcome on 25 November.

Heathrow Airport

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to reach a decision on the possible expansion of Heathrow Airport.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government’s position on airports capacity has not changed since the Airports Commission published their final report on 1 July 2015. Government is still reviewing all of the evidence before coming to any decisions.The Prime Minister has said a decision will be made by the end of the year.

Shipping: Navigation

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to section 32(1) of the Pilotage Act 1987, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to maintain pilotage standards in areas where harbour authorities now have the power to impose compulsory pilotage upon shipping.

Mr Robert Goodwill: None. The Pilotage Act 1987 already requires Competent Harbour Authorities to keep under consideration what pilotage services need to be provided to secure the safety of ships navigating their waters, including the circumstances in which pilotage should be compulsory, and to provide such pilotage services accordingly.

Taxis

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance he provides to local authorities on the enforcement of the prohibition on private hire vehicles plying for hire; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: The Department for Transport’s Best Practice Guidance for taxi and private hire licensing advises local authorities that the safety of the public depends on authorities having effective enforcement mechanisms in place.The Guidance adds that it is desirable to ensure that taxi and PHV enforcement is at least partially directed to the late night period when problems such as touting and illegal plying for hire are most prevalent.It is for local licensing authorities to determine how they allocate resources for enforcement, which will vary according to local circumstances. Licensing authorities are also advised to liaise closely with the police when undertaking enforcement activity.

Roads: Accidents

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many children have died in road accidents since 2010-11; and if he will estimate what proportion of those children were from households in the lowest income decile.

Andrew Jones: The table below gives the number of children (aged 0-15) killed in reported personal-injury road accidents in Great Britain for 2010 to 2014.The Department does not collect any information on the household income of road causalities.Table: Child (aged 0-15) fatalities in reported personal injury road accidents: GB, 2010-2014 2005-2009 average20102011201220132014Child deaths, England1074747553846Child deaths, Wales and Scotland8136107Total Child deaths, GB5560614853

Highways England: Performance Standards

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he intends to publish the Office for Road and Rail's first Highways England Monitor.

Andrew Jones: The Office for Rail and Road’s (ORR’s) six month update on Highways England’s performance will be laid in the House at the end of November and then published by ORR. The first annual report will be due in summer 2016, after a full year of monitoring Highways England has been completed.

Transport for London: Tickets

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Transport for London on the ability of its ticket machines to accept banknotes issued by Scottish banks.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with Transport for London (TfL) on the ability of its ticket machines to accept banknotes issued by Scottish banks.

Heathrow Airport: Night Flying

Dr Tania Mathias: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of night flights to and from Heathrow Airport.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Along with Gatwick and Stansted, the Government sets night flight restrictions at Heathrow, using its powers under s.78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982.These restrictions limit the number of flights between the hours of 23.30 and 06.00 that can take place during a particular season - there are two seasons per annum, winter and summer, which coincide with the use of Greenwich Mean Time and British Summer Time. Heathrow is limited to 5,800 flights a year during these hours, which translates in to an average of 16 flights per night. Due to a voluntary agreement which prevents scheduled movements before 04.30, most of these flights are from aircraft arriving between the hours of 04.30 and 06.00. It should be noted that these restrictions do not preclude additional aircraft from operating at Heathrow during the night period in the case of emergencies or severe disruption.As well as limiting the number of movements allowed within an airline season, these restrictions place requirements on the aircraft that can operate during the night period, and place seasonal limits on the amount of noise energy that can be emitted at Heathrow. Aircraft are certified by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) according to the noise they produce and the higher the band an aircraft is certified as the higher quota amount it uses with each movement. The Government has also prohibited the noisiest types of aircraft from using the airport during the night. QC/4 aircraft are not allowed to be scheduled during the night quota period (2330 to 0600), and the highest rated QC/8 and QC/16 aircraft are prevented from operating at all during the entire night period (2300 to 0700).The Government will begin consulting next year on a new nights flight regime which will take effect from October 2017.

Heathrow Airport: Air Routes

Dr Tania Mathias: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on the concentration of flight paths over residential areas near Heathrow Airport.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government’s overall policy on aviation noise, as stated in the 2013 Aviation Policy Framework (APF), is ‘to limit and, where possible, reduce the number of people in the UK significantly affected by aircraft noise’. To achieve this, the Government believes in most cases it will be preferable to concentrate aircraft over as few routes as possible. The APF does however go on to say that ‘where there is intensive use of certain routes, and following engagement with local communities, it may be appropriate to explore options for respite which share noise between communities on an equitable basis, provided this does not lead to significant numbers of people newly affected by noise.’

Highways England: Performance Standards

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to lay the Office for Road and Rail's first Highways England Monitor before the House when it is complete.

Andrew Jones: In accordance with the Infrastructure Act, all reports published by the Office for Rail and Road in relation to their Highways Monitor function will be laid in the House before being released to the public. The first annual report will be laid in the House in summer 2016.

Exhaust Emissions: Greater London

Dr Tania Mathias: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of aircraft on nitrous dioxide levels in Greater London.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Air quality emission levels by mode are only compiled at a national level by the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory. Its estimates are updated annually. Emissions from road vehicles are by far the greatest source of nitrous dioxide levels in Greater London.The main impact of aviation on ground local air quality relates to emissions during the landing and take-off phase up to about 3000 feet. Above this height the oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter which can cause respiratory problems get dispersed.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people work on High Speed 2 in (a) his Department and (b) HS2 Ltd; and what the (i) grade, (ii) salary and (iii) location is of each such person.

Mr Robert Goodwill: With regards to part (a), (i) and (ii) of the question, the High Speed Rail headcount for permanent full time equivalents (FTEs) currently in post in the Department is shown in the attached table 1. The salaries shown are average DfT Central salaries. All staff are located in Great Minister House in London.With regards to part (b), (i), (ii) and (iii) of the question, the HS2 Ltd headcount for permanent full time equivalents (FTEs) currently in post is shown in the attached table 2. Table 2 also shows the split between staff based in London and in Birmingham, with salaries at each grade shown as averages.



Table 1 - DfT Staff
(Excel SpreadSheet, 11.02 KB)




Table 2 - HS2 Staff
(Excel SpreadSheet, 11.16 KB)

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which companies have expressed an interest in bidding for the seven engineering contracts announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on his recent visit to China.

Mr Robert Goodwill: I am not able to disclose the identities of companies who may have expressed interest in the HS2 Phase One Main Works Civils Contracts since that procurement process is ongoing at the present time and this information is commercially sensitive.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which legal advisers and barristers have been used by (a) HS2 Ltd and (b) his Department on matters relating to High Speed 2 since the start of the project; and how much each such adviser or barrister (i) has been paid and (ii) is owed.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Since the start of the High Speed 2 project, High Speed Two (HS2) Limited and the Department for Transport have used two types of external legal advisers – solicitors (including parliamentary agents) and barristers.High Speed Two (HS2) Limited has appointed solicitors Eversheds LLP in relation to property & planning and general commercial work, and Herbert Smith Freehills in relation to construction. High Speed Two (HS2) Limited has indicated to the Department that to date it has paid £2,202,410.59 to Eversheds LLP and £763,064.07 to Herbert Smith Freehills. Both figures exclude VAT.The Department has appointed a joint team of solicitors/parliamentary agents from Winckworth Sherwood and Eversheds LLP to provide support in relation to Phase One of the High Speed 2 project. To date, it has paid £4,019,170.18 to Winckworth Sherwood and £3,022,492.30 to Eversheds. These fees are correct up to the end of September 2015 and are exclusive of VAT.The Department has previously, or continues to, instruct the following barristers to support the HS2 Phase One hybrid Bill: Tim Mould QC, James Strachan QC, Lisa Busch, Richard Wald, John Jolliffe, Jacqueline Lean and Richard Turney. Each barrister is remunerated at government hourly rates agreed with the Attorney General. The current spend to date on these barristers in relation to the Bill is £1,404,978.96 and is exclusive of VAT.Since approximately 2010, the Department has also instructed a number of barristers on other HS2 work. These barristers will have been remunerated at government hourly rates agreed with the Attorney General, but unfortunately it would involve disproportionate cost for the Department to provide precise figures.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Montserrat: Companies

Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will ensure that any agreement on a central registry of beneficial ownership in Montserrat includes access for the public with legitimate reason.

James Duddridge: I refer the Right Honourable Lady to the answer given by my Hon Friend the member for Hertfordshire South West (David Gauke), the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 16 October to questions 10437, 10438 and 10448, which sets out the criteria we expect the Overseas Territories to meet in relation to their central register of company beneficial ownership, or similarly effective system. We are in discussions with the Montserrat authorities on this and are offering technical assistance as they develop their proposals.

Syria: Armed Conflict

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to develop a comprehensive strategy to combat ISIL and simultaneously prioritise the protection of civilians in Syria.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK already has a robust, long-term and comprehensive strategy to degrade and defeat ISIL. As the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (David Cameron) said on 16 November, the UK’s approach covers a full spectrum response – military power, counter-terrorism expertise and defeating the poisonous narrative that is the root cause of this evil. We are reinforcing our investment in our response and working tirelessly to protect UK citizens, both at home and abroad, from the threat posed by ISIL.We are also playing a leading role in the 65-member Global Coalition tackling ISIL. That international effort includes military action against ISIL in its heartlands in Iraq and Syria, coordinated international efforts to cut off its finances, tackling foreign fighter flows, and stabilising areas which have been liberated from ISIL. The Coalition is also confronting ISIL’s ideology by exposing this extremism for what it is – a belief system that glorifies violence and subjugates its people, most of all Muslims. On 28 November, I co-chaired the Coalition Strategic Communications Working Group's social media conference in London.The UK remains committed to protecting civilians in Syria, both from the brutality of ISIL and the indiscriminate killing of the Assad regime. I refer the Honourable Gentleman to the answer I gave to Question 15059 on 13 November.

Montserrat: Companies

Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the progress made by Montserrat in meeting the Prime Minister's ambition for a public register of beneficial ownership since June 2013.

Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the time taken for Montserrat to respond to his Department's consultation on a public register of beneficial ownership.

James Duddridge: I refer the Right Honourable Lady to the answer given by my Hon Friend the member for Hertfordshire South West (David Gauke), the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to questions 10437, 10438 and 10448, which sets out the criteria we expect the Overseas Territories to meet in relation to their central register of company beneficial ownership, or similarly effective system. We are in discussions with the Montserrat authorities on this and are offering technical assistance as they develop their proposals.

Turks and Caicos Islands: Companies

Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will ensure that any agreement on a central registry of beneficial ownership in the Turks and Caicos Islands will include access for the public with legitimate reason.

Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the time taken for the Turks and Caicos Islands to respond to his Department's consultation on a public register of beneficial ownership.

Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the progress made by the Turks and Caicos Islands in meeting the Prime Minister's ambition for a public register of beneficial ownership since June 2013.

James Duddridge: I refer the Right Honourable Lady to the answer given by my Hon Friend the member for Hertfordshire South West (David Gauke), the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to questions 10437, 10438 and 10448, which sets out the criteria we expect the Overseas Territories to meet in relation to their central register of company beneficial ownership, or similarly effective system.We are in discussions with the Turks and Caicos Islands authorities on this and are offering technical assistance as they develop their proposals.

Egypt: British Nationals Abroad

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure consistent and comprehensive communications by travel insurance companies with UK nationals in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office encourages British nationals to take out comprehensive travel insurance before all foreign travel and to consider carefully the type of insurance they need for their trip. In doing so we work closely with key industry partners such as the Association of British Insurers, who supported ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign activity on travel insurance in May, July and August this year. We also provide information and advice about travel insurance on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-insurance. During our response to recent events in Sharm el Sheikh we worked closely with the airlines and tour operators to ensure consistency of approach to the package offered for those delayed in-country and to minimise the impact on travellers.

Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, is a diplomat at Minister-Counsellor rank in the Qatari embassy to the UK; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge: According to our records Hamad bin Khalifa Bin Hamad Al-Thani holds the rank of Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of Qatar in London.

Egypt: Security

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what advice and information his Department has distributed to UK nationals in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt since 28 October 2015 on staying in that resort; and if he will place copies of such documents in the Library.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: On 4 November 2015, we amended our Travel Advice to advise against all but essential travel by air to Sharm el-Sheikh. We have not changed our Travel Advice for the resort itself. The FCO’s Travel Advice, available at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, provides objective information and advice to help individuals make better-informed decisions about their travel, and the Egypt page has been regularly updated to reflect developing events since the crash of the Russian airliner on 31 October.We have worked closely with airlines and tour operators, and deployed consular officials to the airport and resort to assist British nationals. As part of their work, these officials have distributed extracts from our Travel Advice for Egypt, statements from the Department for Transport, and contact details for the embassy and airlines. They have also distributed short “Frequently Asked Questions” documents at the airport and resort. As much of this information is already on www.gov.uk, we do not plan to place copies of these documents in the Library.

Kurds

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) military and (b) financial support his Department has provided to the Kurdish region in northern Iraq and Syria in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Militarily, the UK is conducting air operations as part of the Global Coalition to assist the Iraqi Government and Kurdish Regional Government in their fight against ISIL. The UK is also providing training and equipment to Iraqi Security Forces and Kurdish Peshmerga in northern Iraq. The UK has provided over 50 tonnes of non-lethal support, 40 heavy machine guns, nearly half a million rounds of ammunition and £600,000 worth of military equipment to the Kurdish Peshmerga. We have gifted 1000 counter-IED VALLON detectors to Iraqi Security Forces, including Kurdish fighters. We have also delivered over 300 tonnes of weapons and ammunition on behalf of other Coalition nations. In Syria, the UK is not providing material support to Kurdish groups. Financially, the UK, through the Department for International Development, is providing £79.5 million in humanitarian assistance to help those across Iraq, including in the Kurdistan Region, who have been affected by ISIL’s brutality. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also manages a portfolio of projects under the Conflict, Security and Stability Fund worth £10 million in Iraq, aimed at helping political reconciliation, building community cohesion and encouraging security sector reform – a portion of which will benefit the Kurdish Region. The UK is providing over £1.1 billion in humanitarian assistance across the region to help those affected by the conflict in Syria.

Islamic State

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts from Arab League states on the threat posed by ISIS; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK has regular discussions with Arab League states, most of which are members of the Global Coalition to counter ISIL. It is crucial we work together to defeat ISIL. Ensuring peace and stability in the region is an important part of the UK’s counter ISIL strategy.ISIL has been on the agenda during all recent discussions with Arab League states. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (David Cameron) and President Sisi spoke about a range of foreign policy issues, including ISIL, during his visit to London earlier this month. The Prime Minister also met His Majesty King Salman of Saudi Arabia in the margins of the G20. In October and November, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Philip Hammond) had extensive discussions about ISIL when he visited Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and engaged with regional countries during the talks on Syria held in Vienna on 14 November.

Islamic State

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his (a) Iranian and (b) Russian counterparts to discuss the threat posed by ISIS; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK does not always agree with the views expressed by Russia and Iran, but we are open to discussion on how best to deal with ISIL and bring peace and security to the region.At the G20, the Prime Minister and President Putin agreed that the international community needed to find a way to work together to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria and focus on the shared aim of destroying ISIL.Iran’s role in fostering instability in the Middle East continues to be a source of concern. The newly opened Embassy in Tehran is an opportunity to discuss a range of regional issues with Iranian counterparts, including shared threats such as ISIL. The UK has discussed ISIL with Iranian President Rouhani, as well as Ministers and officials.Both Russia and Iran have attended the talks in Vienna aimed at finding a political solution to the situation in Syria. The UK will continue to play a leading role in the International Syria Support Group.

Kashmir

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions the Government has had with the Indian Prime Minister on Kashmir during his recent visit to the UK.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) and Indian Prime Minister Modi did not discuss Kashmir during the recent visit. The long standing position of the UK is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the situation in Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

Department for International Development

Visual Impairment

Mr Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assumptions her Department has made on (a) global levels of avoidable blindness and low vision and (b) projected levels of those problems in 2020 in planning its work.

Grant Shapps: The latest available evidence on the burden of disease is used in planning our work. Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that 285 million people are estimated to be visually impaired worldwide: 39 million are blind and 246 million have low vision. Data on levels and trends of the burden of diseases and injuries and the risk factors that cause them are an important input to health decision-making for national governments and development partners.When making investment decisions DFID considers many factors, including the burden of disease, to ensure that we deliver value for money and that we address the health needs of the countries we support.

Visual Impairment

Mr Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the cost effectiveness of her Department's programmes to help reduce the incidence of avoidable blindness and low vision.

Mr Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the cost effectiveness of (a) cataract surgery, (b) correction of refractive error, (c) interventions against trachoma and (d) other public health interventions.

Grant Shapps: DFID uses evidence on the cost-effectiveness of health interventions to inform DFID investment decisions. This includes the World Health Organisation CHOICE (CHOosing Interventions that are Cost-Effective) project that provides detailed cost-effectiveness estimates of a large number of interventions to reduce risks to health, including many causes of blindness. DFID’s aim is to maximise health gains through targeted, cost-effective health interventions that are delivered through strengthened, more efficient and effective health systems.Every DFID project is rigorously appraised before approval. During implementation each project is regularly monitored to examine whether the targeted results are on track, whether the project represents value for money and remains cost effective, and what, if any, corrective action needs to be undertaken. DFID considers alternative approaches and cost-effectiveness, amongst other factors, whenever we make an investment. The best value for money in a given country at a given time will depend on many factors, including the local context and what others are doing.

Visual Impairment

Mr Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department has taken to help reduce the incidence of avoidable blindness and low vision since 2010.

Grant Shapps: DFID has a number of programmes that directly and indirectly support the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness. Since 2010 DFID has supported: the control of river blindness; programmes that contribute to the elimination of blinding trachoma; the work of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust to tackle trachoma, diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity across the Commonwealth; a Programme Partnership Arrangement with Sightsavers and several UK Aid Match schemes that provide a range of sight-restoring and sight-saving operations; and funding provided to UNICEF, the GAVI Alliance and the Measles and Rubella Initiative (MRI) that has helped provide, amongst other things, food fortification, Vitamin A supplementation and measles immunisation, which reduce the risk of blindness.Prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness requires a strong health system. Through its health systems strengthening, DFID is helping to ensure that eye treatment is available for all. The UK is providing significant support to developing and maintaining robust health systems to enable developing countries to address their health priorities.

Visual Impairment

Mr Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what information her Department holds on the global cost of lost economic activity due to blindness and low vision.

Grant Shapps: There are a limited number of studies that estimate the lost productivity from all avoidable blindness. However, there have been some studies to assess the impact of specific causes of visual impairment and blindness. For example, it has been estimated that trachoma alone causes US$3-6 billion in lost productivity per year across affected countries. DFID is supporting the prevention and treatment of trachoma in a number of highly endemic countries.

Developing Countries: Health Services

Mr Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department is providing to countries which have not yet developed a national eye care plan.

Grant Shapps: In 2013, the World Health Assembly approved the Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Avoidable Blindness and Visual Impairment 2014-2019 - Towards Universal Eye Health. This is a roadmap for WHO Member States and international partners with the aim of achieving a measurable reduction of 25% of avoidable visual impairments by 2019. One of the three key objectives of the plan is the development and implementation of integrated national eye health policies, plans and programmes to enhance universal eye health. The UK has signed up to the plan and existing UK programmes on avoidable blindness are contributing to achieving its objectives.

Developing Countries: Doctors

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make an assessment of the effect of the recruitment of doctors to the NHS from developing countries on the health services in those countries.

Grant Shapps: There are no UK-specific estimates of the impact of international recruitment of health workers.The UK has signed the World Health Organisation Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. Among its underlying principles is that developing nations who are experiencing shortages of healthcare staff should not be targeted for active recruitment. Adherence to the principles of the code is managed by the NHS Employers organisation.

Developing Countries: Sanitation

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much of her Department's budget is spent on supporting water, sanitation and hygiene services; and if she will make a statement.

Grant Shapps: Expenditure by sector is reported in Statistics on International Development (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-on-international-development-2014).

Department for Education

Disabled Students' Allowances

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that guidance on changes to the disabled students' allowance is easily accessible to (a) parents and (b) schools.

Edward Timpson: Reforms to the special educational needs and disability system mean local authorities must publish information in their Local Offers about support available to young people in Higher Education (HE), including Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) and the process and timescales for making an application for DSAs. We would expect this information to cover changes to DSAs.The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is currently considering the responses made to the recent consultation on proposed changes to DSAs, and the government response to the consultation will be published in due course. The proposed changes aim to make HE as accessible as possible, to re-balance support between HE providers and DSAs, and to improve value for money.DSAs will remain available to complement the support provided by institutions, and students will continue to receive the support they need.BIS has been clear that any changes implemented will take effect from August 2016 for the Academic year 2016/17. BIS will be working closely with the Student Loans Company and other stakeholders, to ensure that correct information is easily available.

Schools: Radicalism

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance has been issued to headteachers on the application of the Prevent programme in schools.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education has issued statutory Prevent duty guidancewith practical advice to governing bodies, school leaders, head teachers and school staff to help them understand their role under the new Prevent duty and how to access support. This is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/445977/3799_Revised_Prevent_Duty_Guidance__England_Wales_V2-Interactive.pdfIn addition, the Department launched a dedicated webpage for preventing extremism in the education sector on 1 September 2015. This page brings together the Department’s existing guidance and advice on the Prevent duty, fundamental British values, and safeguarding, all of which provide advice and help head teachers uphold their obligations under the Prevent duty.It also gives details of the Department’s dedicated counter extremism helpline, which enables people to directly raise concerns relating to extremism. Head teachers, school staff, parents, governors and members of the public can make use of the helpline to report their concerns about extremism in schools and to seek guidance on the Prevent duty. The webpage can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-extremism-in-schools-and-childrens-services/preventing-extremism-in-the-education-and-childrens-services-sectorsThe Home Office has developed core training for the purpose of raising awareness of school staff, the Workshop to Raise Awareness of Prevent (WRAP). It is free of charge, tested, flexible and includes case studies involving schools and young people. There are a number of professionals who are accredited WRAP facilitators, particularly in safeguarding roles and within local authorities and the police.The department is continuing its work to support the sector in implementing the Prevent duty, including looking at ways to provide support that specifically and separately focuses on school governors, head teachers, teachers and parents.

Schools: Radicalism

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions have taken place with teaching unions on the application of the Prevent programme in schools.

Edward Timpson: The Department of Education consulted the teaching unions on the Prevent duty guidance which was published in March 2015 (see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance) and officials have subsequently briefed union representatives both on the duty and on the Department’s role in implementing the Prevent strategy in education. The Department has worked particularly closely with the unions representing school leaders to support schools in meeting their responsibilities under the Prevent duty.

First Aid: Education

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to encourage the teaching of emergency first aid skills in schools.

Edward Timpson: There is nothing more important than keeping children and staff safe. Schools can teach emergency first aid and life-saving skills through personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, and the best ones already do. The non-statutory PSHE Programme of Study produced by the PSHE Association, teaches young people how to recognise and follow health and safety procedures, ways of reducing risk and minimising harm in risky situations, and how to use emergency and basic first aid. We have put in place a new duty requiring schools to support all children’s medical needs and have set-up a scheme so they can buy defibrillators at a reduced price.The Department for Education also works closely with expert organisations such as the Red Cross and St John Ambulance who provide learning materials to schools, including life-saving training kits produced by the British Heart Foundation. These kits provide young people with first-hand experience of life-saving skills and we have promoted the use of these via the termly school email and social media channels. The Department is also providing £254,911 in funding for St John Ambulance via the Character Grant, which will select 31,500 pupils for first aid training.

Leader of the House

Leader of the House of Commons: Families

Nic Dakin: To ask the Leader of the House, what steps his Office has taken to embed the family test into its policy making.

Chris Grayling: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for West Suffolk (Matt Hancock) on 16 November 2015, to Question UIN 15373.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Video Games: Cultural Heritage

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to develop a UK games archive to preserve computer and online games and the creative process which is part of their development as part of the UK's cultural identity.

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to coordinate additional support for and recognition of the importance to modern British culture of the video games industry from (a) the BFI, (b) Arts Council of England and (c) other public agencies.

Mr Edward Vaizey: This Government recognises the cultural value of video games and the importance of the industry to the UK economy. The games sector is particularly well placed to deliverfurther prosperity in the regions and help increase UK exports. The creation of a video games archive and additional support for video games from public agencies were proposed in the recent industry report, A Blueprint for Growth.It also highlighted the contribution video games make to British culture and our economy, as well as the potential for further growth. We are currently reviewing the evidence in the report, its various recommendations and any implications for our future policies.

STEM Subjects

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations his Department has received on including art and design within the curriculum for STEM subjects.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Department works closely with the Department for Education and Arts Council England to increase access to music and cultural education for every child. This Government has ensured that art and design remain core subjects that must be taught in Key Stages 1-3 as part of the National Curriculum.

Broadband

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he plans to take to ensure that high-speed broadband provision can meet the likely demand for such provision by 2020 of creative and digital companies in geographic clusters.

Mr Edward Vaizey: This Government recognises the need for creative and digital companies to have access to have access to high-speed broadband, wherever in the UK they are located. The Government’s Superfast Broadband Programme is on track to deliver superfast broadband coverage to 95 per cent of UK premises by the end of 2017.Inaddition we are supporting seven pilot projects to explore ways to extend superfast broadband beyond 95 per cent of UK homes and businesses. The Government will also launch a public consultation early next year in preparation for the implementation of a new broadband USO by 2020, with the ambition to give people the legal right to request a connection to broadband with speeds of 10 Mbps,nomatterwherein the countrytheylive.

Digital Technology: Training

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of (a) long-term skills and employment needs of the digital economy, (b) the role apprenticeships could play in meeting those needs and (c) the role alternative forms of professional training and vocational education could play in meeting those needs; and whether he plans for alternative forms of digital skills development to be supported by the Apprenticeship Levy.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Research from the Tech Partnership, estimates over a million new recruits are needed for digital roles across the workforce by 2023, including in growth areas such as cyber security, data analytics, cloud and mobile computing skills.Apprenticeships have a key role to play in meeting the UK’s digital skills requirements. As part of the commitment to reach 3 million apprenticeships starts by 2020, Government is supporting the growth of apprenticeships in digital industry occupations at a range of levels, including the Digital Degree Apprenticeship. Employer-led apprenticeship reforms continue to improve quality and provide the high level skills that employers need.Planned reforms to technical and professional education will introduce a new system of clear progression routes, from school to skilled employment.The Chancellor will announce further details of the Apprenticeship Levy at the Spending Review, including the scope and rate.

Big Lottery Fund: Scotland

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department plans to reduce the Big Lottery Fund budget for Scotland.

Tracey Crouch: In line with the arms’ length principle of lottery distribution, the Big Lottery Fund itself decides how much of its funding to allocate to Scotland and to each of the other home nations.

Big Lottery Fund: Scotland

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with the voluntary sector in Scotland on the level of funding for Scotland's Big Lottery Fund.

Tracey Crouch: The Big Lottery Fund decides how much of its funding to allocate to Scotland.

BBC

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that public opinion is taken into account in its input to the BBC Charter review.

Mr Edward Vaizey: A public consultation which began on Thursday 16 July and closed on 8 October received in excess of 190,000 responses. We are now in the process of analysing these responses.

Broadband: Wales

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which areas of Wales (a) have access to 4G and (b) are planned to receive access to 4G by 2016-17; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Improving mobile coverage is a priority for Government. Government reached a landmark agreement with mobile network operators in 2014 to provide coverage to 90% of UK landmass, and the licence obligation on Telefonica (O2) will provide indoor 4G coverage to at least 95 per cent of premises in Wales by 2017. Ofcom is responsible for monitoring and enforcing this requirement and publishes coverage information on its online maps available at www.maps.ofcom.org.uk

UK City of Culture

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what his Department's budget is for the 2021 UK City of Culture competition; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The process for determining the winning city in 2021 is due to take place in 2017. All funding is subject to the forthcoming spending review.

Sports: Drugs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on tackling doping in sport.

Tracey Crouch: I will be meeting the World Anti-Doping Agency in the near future to discuss current doping issues. In addition, both my Department and UK Anti-Doping engage regularly with international counterparts on a range of sporting matters, including tackling doping in sport.

Broadband: Small Businesses

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the closure of the Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme on businesses planning to make an application ahead of the original closure date of March 2016; what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on securing the funding required to re-open and extend that scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Broadband ConnectVoucherSchemewas hugelysuccessful, and has benefitted 55,000 small and medium businesses across the UK. BDUK issued regular updates to encourage firms to act quickly given the increasingly high demand for vouchers. All broadband connectionsvouchersissued to SMEs before theschemeclosed on 12 October that comply with thescheme’s terms and conditions will be funded. All further funding is subject to the forthcoming Spending Review.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Water Charges

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average household bill for water was in (a) Enfield North constituency, (b) Enfield, (c) Greater London and (d) the UK in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2015.

Rory Stewart: Customers in Greater London are served by one water and sewerage company (Thames Water) and three water only companies (Affinity Water, Essex & Suffolk Water and Sutton & East Surrey Water). Customers of the water only companies receive sewerage services from Thames Water.Customers in both the London Borough of Enfield and the Enfield North constituency receive water services from one of two companies, Affinity Water or Thames Water.The following table sets out the average water and sewerage charges for each of the companies and for England and Wales in 2010 and 2015.Company20102015Affinity Water – Central region1 (water)£156£172Essex & Suffolk Water (water)£183£229Sutton & East Surrey Water (water)£162£184Thames Water (water)£189£197Thames Water (sewerage)£114£171England and Wales (water)£165£182England and Wales (sewerage)£174£2031 Affinity Water was established in 2012, through the purchase of Veolia Water.

Forests

Rebecca Pow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of ancient woodland is located within (a) national parks and (b) areas of outstanding natural beauty; and what proportion of that woodland has site of special scientific interest status.

Rory Stewart: Natural England estimates that 15% of ancient woodlandis located within national parks and 30% is located within areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs). In national parks, 41% of this woodland has site of special scientific interest (SSSI) status; in AONBs, 13% of this woodland has SSSI status.

Birds

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce in the rest of the UK the General Licence Restriction Order for the protection of birds in use in Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

Rory Stewart: The introduction of a new regulatory measure requires evidence that it will be effective.We will monitor the situation in Scotland to consider whether this measure is necessary and proportionate to assist in tackling wildlife crime in England.

Government Departments: Sustainable Development

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what evaluation she made of the potential effect on delivering sustainable development (a) on the Government Estate and (b) in the UK of the planned reduction in her Department's expenditure.

George Eustice: While the Spending Review has been driven by the need to contribute to the Government’s overall aim of eliminating the deficit, our settlement also reflects the vital importance of work done in all parts of Defra.We are confident that the settlement will allow us to deliver our ambitions over the course of this parliament to safeguard our natural assets, support our food and farming industry and sustain a thriving rural economy.In relation to the government estate, we are currently considering the future Greening Government Commitment arrangements. The current Greening Government Commitments, which were aimed at reducing government’s environmental impacts, have also led to financial savings (for example, the estimated savings from reducing energy, water and waste costs across government were approximately £94 million in 2013/14 compared to 2009/10).

Lead: Ammunition

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the net present value of a phase-out of the use of lead ammunition for sports shooting.

Rory Stewart: The independent Lead Ammunition Group, which was established to consider the effect of lead shot on human health and wildlife, was also asked to advise on any significant impacts on shooting activity of possible advice or solutions. The Government is considering its report and will respond as soon as possible.

Coastal Areas: Environment Protection

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost of protection and conservation of UK coastlines has been over the last five years; and what the projected cost of such protection and conservation will be over the next five years.

Rory Stewart: Flood and coastal erosion risk management is devolved in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. In England, over the past 5 years total Government capital expenditure on building and improving defences to provide protection against coastal flooding or erosion was £750 million. In the five years that started in April 2015, £875 million of capital funding has been indicatively allocated for the same purpose.

Coastal Areas: Environment Protection

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to protect and conserve the UK's coastlines.

Rory Stewart: This Government is making a record six year commitment to invest £2.3 billion in providing better protection for 300,000 households in England by 2021. We estimate that 45% of this funding will help reduce the risk of coastal flooding or erosion.Flood and coastal erosion risk management is devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Hedgehogs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support initiatives to increase hedgehog numbers.

Rory Stewart: Defra is working with partners to identify actions that will help the conservation of hedgehogs though the Terrestrial Biodiversity Group, chaired by Natural England.In addition, the Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package element of the new Countryside Stewardship scheme will deliver specific management focused on improving farmland biodiversity across most farming systems. The package supports management options, including the conservation and enhancement of hedgerow systems and the creation and maintenance of field margins, which will help to provide suitable habitat for a range of species, including hedgehogs.We also welcome the work being undertaken by a number of non-government organisations in helping to establish the facts behind the decline of the hedgehog and raise public awareness.

Weedkillers

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the (a) NFU and (b) other farming bodies on the effect of herbicides on reducing crop yields.

George Eustice: I have had regular meetings with the National Farmers Union (NFU) and other farming bodies where herbicide issues will have been discussed, but there have been no discussions about herbicides reducing crop yields.

Horses: Databases

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to establish a central database of horse movement as required by the Equine Identification Regulations by 1 July 2016.

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to prevent animal crime in relation to the import and export of horses before the implementation of the Equine Identification Regulations.

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to (a) simplify and (b) increase the effectiveness of regulatory standards on trade in horses.

George Eustice: Defra is taking a number of steps to simplify and strengthen existing rules for horses. These include implementation of new tighter EU legislation for equine identification, introduction of a new UK equine database recording horse identification information, and continuing to take an intelligence-led and risk based approach to enforcing the regulatory framework which relates to the domestic and international trade in horses.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many officials in her Department are working on matters related to High Speed 2; and what the grades of those officials are.

George Eustice: Technical and policy specialists contribute to the Department's work on HS2. Within the core Department a policy team (1 Grade 7 and 1 SEO) co-ordinates input from specialists from across the Department as required. This forms one part of the team’s role.The Environment Agency (EA) and Natural England (NE) provide input through the roles of the following officials:3 Grade 7s (2 EA, 1 NE)1 Grade 6 (EA)7 SEOs (5 EA, 2 NE)3 HEOs (1 EA, 2 NE)In addition, one Grade 7 and two SEOs from the Forestry Commission and members of local EA and NE teams provide specialist advice as required.

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Mr David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to bring forward proposals to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.

George Eustice: I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given to the hon. Member for Penistone and Stocksbridge, Angela Smith, on 21 July 2015, PQ UIN 7749.

Dangerous Dogs: Wales

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dogs in Wales have been placed on the register of exempt dogs under section 4A and section 4B procedures under the Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Act 1997 in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: The number of dogs in Wales that have been placed on the Index of Exempted Dogs under Section 4A and Section 4b of the Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Act 1997 in each complete year since 1997 is in the table below. There were no recorded entries in Wales for the period 1997 – 2003.YearNumber of Dogs20041200512006020072200872009720109201117201233201341201435

Organic Food

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to ensure that organic food producers are subsidised under the Common Agricultural Policy.

George Eustice: Organic farmers in England are eligible to claim Common Agricultural Policy support under the Basic Payments Scheme and are also eligible to apply for funding under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Fuel Poverty

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to chart 4.2 of the Annual Fuel Poverty Statistics Report 2015, published by her Department on 28 May 2015, what proportion of the (a) local authority, (b) owner-occupied, (c) private rented and (d) housing association households are in fuel poverty.

Andrea Leadsom: The number and proportion of fuel poor households in England by tenure are shown below:TenureLocal AuthorityOwner occupiedPrivate RentedHousing Association2003 - Number of fuel poor households (000s)4961,2204832152003 - Proportion of households (%)21825142013 – Number of fuel poor households (000s)1931,1048162342013 – Proportion of households (%)1281910

Energy Supply: Scotland

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions she has had with the Scottish Government on the resilience and security of the energy supply in Scotland.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department of Energy and Climate Change Energy regularly meets with the Scottish Government to discuss resilience issues in the energy sector.

Coal Fired Power Stations: Weather

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the implications for the security of electricity supply for winter 2015-16 of the announced closure of Longannet, Ferrybridge and Eggborough power stations.

Andrea Leadsom: There is no impact on security of supply for winter 15/16 as these power stations are expected to be available for generation throughout this winter. Assessments about plant availability are made during National Grid’s winter outlook process which will inform the final view presented in National Grid’s Winter Outlook Report.The Department of Energy and Climate Change takes security of supply very seriously and has worked with National Grid to put in place a plan to secure electricity supplies even in tough system conditions such as cold weather

Energy Supply

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent steps she has taken to continue to ensure the security of the electricity supply in the UK.

Andrea Leadsom: The government takes security of supply very seriously. We have worked with National Grid and Ofgem to put an effective plan in place for this winter and we are already taking prudent steps to manage margins in winter 2016/17.DECC officials have worked with National Grid and Ofgem on National Grid’s winter outlook process for 15/16 which has informed the procurement of the Contingency Balancing Reserve for this winter.National Grid and Ofgem agree that Grid should retain the ability to procure the contingency balancing services for the next two winters and the Government supports this position. On 15 October, Ofgem commenced its consultation on the extension of the cost recovery arrangements for the contingency balancing services to allow National Grid’s contingency balancing services to continue for the winters prior to the introduction of the Capacity Market in 18/19. National Grid’s Tender for the Contingency Balancing Reserve (subject to the outcome of the Ofgem consultation) opened on 2 November.The Capacity Market, a key part of our reform of the electricity market, will drive new investment in gas and demand side capacity in the future. The first Capacity Market auction was successfully concluded in December 2014 and the next will commence on 8December 2015. We have announced our intention to procure a total of 47.9GW capacity for the delivery year 2019/20 and that the target capacity for the auction this December will be 45.4GW. The balance (2.5 GW) will be procured in 2018, one year ahead of delivery.

National Grid: Weather

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions her Department has had with National Grid on its Winter Outlook Report 2015-16, published in October 2015.

Andrea Leadsom: DECC Officials work closely with National Grid counterparts on the analysis in the winter outlook and maintain a constant dialogue as it is developed.The Winter Outlook Report presents a snapshot view of the forecast security of supply situation which is constantly being analysed by National Grid in cooperation with DECC and Ofgem. The Winter Outlook is part of a wider programme of analysis including National Grid’s Summer Outlook, Winter Outlook Consultation and Ofgem’s capacity assessment. v

Housing: Solar Power

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department is taking to (a) promote the installation of domestic solar photovoltaic systems and (b) provide funding streams for such installations.

Andrea Leadsom: In 2014, renewables provided nearly one fifth of the UK’s electricity needs[1] and we are on track to reach our aim of delivering 30 per cent by 2020. Generation from solar PV is making a significant contribution to achieving this aim, partly due to the support the technology receives through the small-scale Feed-in Tariff (FITs) scheme, and partly through the support to larger, mostly ground mounted solar PV, through the Renewables Obligation (RO); as of the end of October, we had a total of nearly 8.2GW of solar PV deployed across the UK.We are required by our EU state aid approval to carry out a review of FITs this year to ensure that tariff levels provide sufficient incentive to potential generators whilst not over-compensating applicants to the scheme. The Government proposed changes to FITs as part of that review, on which we consulted widely between 27th August and 23rd October. We are currently analysing feedback submitted during the consultation and intend to publish a Government response in due course.This review, along with other measures to control costs under the levy control framework, should help ensure that renewables deployment remains affordable. Consultations have closed and we expect to provide the government responses in due course.[1] Energy Trends

Energy: Storage

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if her Department will bring forward plans to invest in energy storage, including pump storage hydro, to increase security of electricity supply.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department recognises the potential for storage to help us use energy more flexibly and decarbonise our energy system cost effectively, alongside interconnection and demand-side response (DSR). In light of this, more than £80m public sector controlled support has been committed to energy storage research, development and demonstration activities since 2012.Storage is also eligible to participate in the Capacity Market (CM). One pump hydro company has conditionally prequalified with a new project for the next round of auctions this year.The Department is investigating the potential barriers to the deployment of energy storage. We are carefully considering possible mitigating actions, focussing in the first instance on removing regulatory barriers to energy storage. We plan to conduct a consultation and call for evidence in the spring.

Electricity Interconnectors: Belgium and France

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of the probability of the UK not being able to rely on electricity interconnectors to the continent as in previous years because of French and Belgian supply being limited until 2020 due to the closure of old fossil fuel plant and nuclear reactors in those countries.

Andrea Leadsom: National Grid makes an assessment of the extent to which all GB interconnectors can be relied upon at times of system stress. This is based on an assessment of European markets. In recent years we have, in fact, observed increased efficiency of the interconnectors and imports to the UK system at times of peak demand. As market coupling is further implemented, we expect this to continue. This is assessed on an annual basis to take into account any changing market dynamics. For this winter, forward power prices suggest net imports to GB over interconnectors with continental Europe.Beyond these market arrangements, should GB need additional support, it is also possible for National Grid as the System Operator to call upon interconnectors at a time of system stress.

Coal Fired Power Stations: Weather

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on security of energy supply of failures this winter in the operation of those major coal power stations which are due to close in spring 2016.

Andrea Leadsom: National Grid, as part of their winter outlook process assesses the overall reliability of technologies based on their historic reliability. This is the ‘de-rating factor’ that is applied to calculate available margins.There is nothing about the decision to cease connection to the transmission grid that would make a plant more unreliable prior to its planned withdrawal.Our priority is to ensure that British families and business have access to secure affordable energy supplies that they can rely on and we are taking prudent steps to manage the margins in winter 2016/17. Since 2014 National Grid have had the ability to procure a Contingency Balancing Reserve (CBR), which consists of the Supplemental Balancing Reserve (SBR), where existing power stations stand by ready to generate additional electricity and the Demand Side Balancing Reserve (DSBR) where companies bid for contracts with National Grid to receive payments in return for reducing their electricity usage times of peak demand should National Grid so require. National Grid and Ofgem agree that we should retain the ability to procure CBR for the next two winters. Government supports this position and we expect confirmation later this month following an Ofgem consultation. Beyond winter 2017/18, the Capacity Market will take over as the long term solution for security of supply.

Electricity Interconnectors: Weather

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the probability of the UK having to export electricity across the interconnectors to the continent at times of peak demand during winter 2015-16.

Andrea Leadsom: As indicated by National Grid’s 2015 Winter Outlook, forward power prices for this winter suggest that we will see net imports to GB over electricity interconnectors with continental Europe (IFA and Britned).Beyond these market arrangements, should GB need additional support, it is also possible for National Grid as the System Operator to call upon interconnectors at a time of system stress.

Electricity Interconnectors

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the effect of the National Grid's assumption of electricity supply from interconnectors increasing from 0GW to 1GW of electricity at the same time as electricity margins on the continent shrink on the UK being able to import electricity at times of peak demand.

Andrea Leadsom: National Grid makes an assessment of the extent to which all GB interconnectors can be relied upon to provide electricity to GB when needed. The assumptions around electricity imports are informed by an assessment of connected markets, including consideration of their electricity margins, the wider network to which they are connected and the chance of coincident scarcity with the connected markets.Beyond these market arrangements, should GB need additional support, it is also possible for National Grid as the System Operator to call upon interconnectors at a time of system stress.

Energy Supply

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether COBR has a role in considering resilience issues relating to security of energy supply.

Andrea Leadsom: COBR may be used as a mechanism to coordinate the government’s response to disruption to energy supplies that have a national impact, and where the response requires central government support and coordination.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of proposed changes to feed-in tariffs on the solar industry in Scotland.

Andrea Leadsom: In addition to the impact assessment published alongside the FIT review, part of the purpose of the consultation process itself has been to gather views on the broader economic impact of the proposals. We are currently analysing feedback submitted during the consultation, which closed on 23rd October. We intend to publish a Government response in due course.

Electricity Generation: Finance

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of developing zero subsidy Contracts for Difference auctions for the electricity supply market; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: Stakeholders have suggested the concept of a market stabilising Contracts for Difference (CfD) and we are listening to ideas from industry about how this can be achieved and how we can best ensure a level playing field between renewable and other generation technologies. We are still working up ideas and would welcome continued input from stakeholders.

Electricity: Reserves

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many times the National Grid has used the demand side balancing reserve in each of the last 10 years.

Andrea Leadsom: The Demand Side Balancing Reserve (DSBR) was introduced by National Grid ahead of winter 14/15 to help manage electricity margins ahead of the introduction of the Capacity Market in 2018/19. Since its introduction, the DSBR has only been despatched on one occasion.Both last year and this year, National Grid will have instructed units within the DSBR as part of testing their capability to ensure they are able to achieve the level and speed of turn-down for which they are contracted.

Housing: Energy

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department is taking to improve the energy efficiency of homes; and whether any of the National Infrastructure Committee's funding will be available for use to increase home energy efficiency.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 19 November 2015



Since 2013 the Government has supported industry in delivering over 1.6 million measures which were installed in over 1.3 million households through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) alone. We are now working with the industry and consumer groups on a new value-for-money approach.We’ve also commissioned an independent review led by Peter Bonfield to investigate quality, standards and consumer protection to ensure that the system properly supports and protects consumers.The National Infrastructure Commission will be resourced to carry out its task of advising Government on the UK’s infrastructure needs and priorities. It will not have adirectrole in funding infrastructure delivery.We are clear that support should be focussed on those with the greatest need.

Private Rented Housing: Energy

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions she has had with her European counterparts about minimum EPC standards for the private rented sector.

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions she has had with local authorities about minimum EPC standards for the private rented sector.

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions she has had with the cavity wall insulation industry about minimum EPC standards in the private rented sector.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 19 November 2015



The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property)(England and Wales) Regulations 2015 were made in March this year following a full public consultation, and establish an EPC minimum of E for domestic and non-domestic private rented sector properties from April 2018.Officials in the Department liaise regularly with the insulation industry, local authorities, and other stakeholders on a range of energy efficiency issues including the minimum EPC standards for the private rented sector. Discussions have also been held recently with French officials about domestic energy efficiency issues including minimum standards.

Electricity: Storage

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether she has given consideration to re-classifying electricity storage vessels to enable distribution network operators to utilise such vessels without paying generation charges.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department recognises the potential for storage to help us use energy more flexibly and decarbonise our energy system cost effectively, alongside interconnection and demand-side response (DSR). As such, DECC is investigating the potential barriers to the deployment of energy storage. We are carefully considering possible mitigating actions, focussing in the first instance on removing regulatory barriers to energy storage. The re-classification of energy storage is one of the options we are considering. We plan to conduct a consultation and call for evidence in due course.

Energy

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on a cross-departmental approach to moving to low carbon energy sources.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 19 November 2015



Working across departments is essential in order to move to low carbon energy sources and deliver our carbon commitments. There is already a great deal of work going on because we recognise that the challenges and opportunities we face require the whole of Government to work together.For example, we are cutting emissions, driving innovation and creating jobs through our joint work with the Department of Transport to promote low emissions vehicles.

Fuels: Sustainable Development

Stuart McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether her Department has considered the potential contribution that sustainable fuels can make to supporting the decarbonisation of the UK economy.

Andrea Leadsom: Sustainable fuels already form an important part of our energy mix and are contributing to the decarbonisation of the UK economy.During 2014 just under a fifth of renewable electricity generation came from bioenergy; bioenergy also forms about 94% of our total renewable heat generation; and in transport the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) ensures that just under 5% of transport fuel comes from sustainable biofuels.The 2011 Carbon Plan set out a range of scenarios for how the UK could reduce emissions. This considered the role of renewable technologies under the different scenarios. The Government is due to set out next year the level of the fifth carbon budget, covering the years 2028-2032, and following this, a new emissions reduction plan will be published.

Fracking: Licensing

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2015 to Question 15604, what information her Department holds on the (a) number of petroleum exploration and development licences which have been (i) applied for and (ii) issued in the last 12 months and (b) the location to which such applications and licences apply.

Andrea Leadsom: No landward Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences have been applied for, nor issued, during the last 12 months. However, in the latest (14th) Onshore Oil and Gas Licensing Round, which closed for bids on 28 October 2014, 95 applications were received from 47 companies covering 295 Ordinance Survey Blocks. The Oil and Gas Authority announced on 18 August 2015 that a first tranche of 27 onshore blocks will be formally offered to companies, and that a second group of 132 further blocks has been subjected to detailed assessment under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010. Subject to the outcome of this consultation, the OGA intends to announce offers for the second group of licence blocks later this year. A map showing the location of the first tranche blocks and those being considered further can be found here:https://decc-edu.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=29c31fa4b00248418e545d222e57ddaa.

Department of Energy and Climate Change: Cost Effectiveness

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what cost savings her Department is planning to make in the current financial year.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 20 November 2015



Spending Round 2013 set the Department’s budget for 2015-16, including efficiency savings. Details can be found via the link below.https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/209036/spending-round-2013-complete.pdfSubsequently, on 4th June 2015, the Government announced further efficiency savings to be delivered in 2015-16. DECC’s contribution to that exercise was to find an addition £70M of efficiency savings.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2015 to Question 14118, when she plans to respond to the consultation on the feed-in tariff review.

Andrea Leadsom: We are currently analysing feedback submitted during the Feed-in Tariff review consultation and intend to publish a Government response as soon as possible.

Department of Energy and Climate Change: Public Expenditure

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what her Department's spending on (a) temporary agency staff, (b) consultants, (c) non-payroll staff, (d) administration and (e) marketing and advertising was in (i) 2014-15 prices and (ii) as a share of her Department's total budget in each year since 2010-11.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 20 November 2015



The Department of Energy and Climate Change’s expenditure in each successive year 2010-11 to 2014-15 and for the categories identified (a) temporary staff; (b) consultants; (d) administration and (e) marketing and advertising and as a percentage of each year’s total budget for the core Department is given in the table below. We have interpreted (c) “non-payroll staff” to mean “temporary staff and “consultants”.

Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority

Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: Performance Standards

Phil Boswell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how IPSA measures how efficient its processes are for hon. Members and their staff to register expenses.

Phil Boswell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how IPSA measures levels of productivity of its staff.

Phil Boswell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what steps IPSA has taken to increase the productivity of its staff.

Mr Charles Walker: IPSA's Corporate Plan identifies Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and associated targets, each of which is the responsibility of a senior manager. Performance against KPIs is measured and reported monthly to IPSA’s Senior Management Team (SMT) and the Board and published on IPSA's website. Operational performance targets for the financial year are contained within IPSA's Annual Report and Accounts, which are also published on IPSA's website.Further information on IPSA’s performance can be found in the Corporate Plan, available on IPSA’s website.Staff capacity, performance and welfare, as well as comprehensive financial management information, are measured and reported monthly to IPSA’s SMT and the Board as part of our KPIs. From this IPSA is able to identify any issues regarding productivity, efficiency or cost and address them accordingly.All IPSA employees have performance objectives, which are aligned with IPSA’s Corporate Plan. Employees are managed against their objectives, including through formal quarterly reviews to ensure performance and productivity are satisfactory.A staff engagement survey is also undertaken each year, which identifies any issues of concern which may affect staff productivity.To ensure IPSA continues to increase both efficiency and productivity it measures performance against our Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This activity enables IPSA to identify any issues and put relevant plans in place to ensure that productivity continues to improve.

Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: Performance Standards

Phil Boswell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what steps IPSA has taken to make its processes more efficient for hon. Members and their staff.

Mr Charles Walker: IPSA provides financial support to enable MPs to perform their parliamentary and constituency work. We aim to do this as efficiently as possible and to minimise the burden on MPs, consistent with our duty to assure the public that all MPs’ business costs are legitimate, supported by evidence and subsequently published.IPSA took a number of steps in 2014-15 to achieve this objective. This included expanding the use of the payment card, permitting MPs to use the card for any eligible cost under the MPs’ Scheme of Business Costs and Expenses (‘the Scheme’) and providing additional telephone support by opening our phone lines from 10am till 5pm, including over the weekend during the General Election, to ensure that MPs could get help and assistance as and when they needed it.IPSA have also provided more training for MPs and their staff on our system and have participated in roadshows and seminars across the country to meet MPs’ staff and explain how our rules and systems operate. IPSA have also held drop-in sessions at Portcullis House for MPs and their staff.All these measures have help to reduce the time that MPs and their staff spend making claims. IPSA are now undertaking a more wide-ranging review of both IT and business services to see where further efficiencies can be made, and to continue to improve the support that it provides to MPs and their staff.

Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: Performance Standards

Phil Boswell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, if IPSA will consult the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body on making its processes more efficient.

Mr Charles Walker: The MPs’ Scheme of Business Costs and Expenses (‘the Scheme’) is reviewed on a regular basis to ensure the rules (and the supporting processes) remain fair and workable. In doing so, IPSA always consult the public, MPs, MPs’ staff and other interested parties, including the Scottish Parliament, whomthe Chief Executive of IPSA, Marcial Boo,met with most recently in August 2015.

Members: Allowances

Phil Boswell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what plans IPSA has to measure the average number of working hours spent by hon. Members and their staff per month on registering expenses with IPSA.

Mr Charles Walker: IPSA carries out an Annual User Survey which seeks to identify, amongst other measures, the hours per month that MPs and their staff spend making expenses claims. The key findings from these surveys are published on IPSA’s website.

Members: Credit Cards

Phil Boswell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, in how many instances IPSA has suspended the credit card of an hon. Member.

Mr Charles Walker: IPSA’s role is to regulate MPs’ business costs and expenses and to provide assurance that public funds are properly and effectively scrutinised. As a normal part of our operations, IPSA may, on occasion, limit the use of MPs’ payment cards for a short period. This may not necessarily entail a suspension of the card.By analysing MPs’ spending against their annual budgets, IPSA uses this routine action as one of various preventative financial controls to limit each MP’s exposure to financial liability and to assist in ensuring their compliance with the MPs’ Scheme of Business Costs and Expenses. Their card use may also be limited in the event of a delay to the monthly reconciliation process.In addition, IPSA sometimes makes amendments to an MP’s payment card account, including by limiting the card’s use, at the request of the cardholder, such as when a card is lost or the MP leaves Parliament

Attorney General

Witnesses

Henry Smith: To ask the Attorney General, what steps the CPS has recently taken to improve its support for (a) child witnesses and (b) people with learning disabilities who give evidence in criminal proceedings.

Robert Buckland: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is committed to improving the ‘at court’ experience for all witnesses. The CPS works closely with the police and the voluntary sector to ensure that vulnerable witnesses such as children and people with learning disabilities are well supported through the Criminal Justice System.Special measures such as the use of intermediaries, using screens at court and video live links help vulnerable witnesses, including children and people with learning difficulties, to give their best evidence. Recently, the CPS assisted the MoJ in recruiting an additional 105 intermediaries, who play a vital role in facilitating coherent conversations during police interviews and at court. The use of pre-recorded cross-examination has also been successfully piloted and the Lord Chancellor has committed publically to a national roll-out.In September, following public consultation, the Director of Public Prosecutions announced the launch of new guidance for prosecutors entitled ‘Speaking to Witnesses at Court’. The aim of this guidance is to set out the role played by prosecutors at or before court in ensuring that witnesses give their best evidence. This will benefit all prosecution witnesses and will help them understand what to expect. These enhanced arrangements will be piloted over the coming months and will be rolled out nationally during 2016.

Evidence

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney General, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of hearsay evidence in court proceedings in reducing the number of unsuccessful cases due to victim or witness issues; and what estimate he has made of the number of cases where hearsay evidence has been used by prosecutors in each year since 2010-11.

Robert Buckland: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutors will apply to admit hearsay evidence where they consider it appropriate to do so and the legislation permits. However, the CPS does not record information on the number of cases where hearsay evidence has been used in the course of criminal proceedings. It follows, therefore, that no assessment of the effectiveness of the use of hearsay evidence in court proceedings in reducing the number of unsuccessful cases due to victim or witness issues is routinely conducted.

Minimum Wage: Prosecutions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney General, how many cases of suspected non-compliance with minimum wage legislation were referred to the CPS in each of the last five years; and how many such referrals led to a prosecution in each of those years.

Robert Buckland: Data held centrally by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), together with information provided by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which has responsibility for enforcing the law in relation to the National Minimum Wage (NMW), shows that there were three cases which were referred to the Crown Prosecution Service by HMRC in the financial year 2010 – 2011, of which two resulted in prosecution. No referrals were made in the financial years 2011 – 2012 and 2012 – 2013. No cases were referred to the Crown Prosecution Service by HMRC in 2013 – 2014 and two cases were referred in 2014 – 2015, of which one resulted in prosecution. One case has been referred in this financial year (2015-2016), which is currently under consideration.The majority of employers identified as paying below the National Minimum Wage pay arrears on receipt of a formal Notice of Underpayment. Where they do not do so, HMRC pursues recovery through the civil courts. For deliberate non-compliance or obstructive behaviour HMRC operates a policy of selective and exemplary criminal investigation action as part of a wider enforcement strategy.

Sexual Offences: Prosecutions

Mrs Louise Ellman: To ask the Attorney General, whether he plans to change the arrangements or level of funding for specialist rape and sexual offence prosecutors; and if he will make a statement.

Robert Buckland: Any consideration of future funding proposals would form part of the Spending Review which will be announced in due course.However, the CPS has been refocusing its existing resources to support Rape and Serious Sexual Offence (RASSO) units, including through a recruitment exercise to increase the size of the units and an extensive training programme to further support staff within them. The CPS is also working closely with the police through a high-level RASSO Steering Group to further ensure the consistent application of policies, including in relation to the seeking and provision of early investigative advice.

Wales Office

Wales Office: Public Expenditure

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much his Department spent on (a) temporary agency staff, (b) consultants, (c) non-payroll staff, (d) administration and (e) marketing and advertising (i) in 2014-15 prices and (ii) as a proportion of his Department's expenditure in each year since 2010-11.

Alun Cairns: The Wales Office spend on (a) temporary staff, (b) consultants, (c) non-payroll staff, (d) administration and (e) marketing and advertising as a proportion of Wales Office expenditure in each year since 2010-11 is shown in the table attached.The numbers shown are actual spend as published in the Wales Office Departmental Annual Report and Accounts.



UIN 16787: Table - Wales Office Expenditure
(Word Document, 16.68 KB)

Wales Office: Public Expenditure

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made of his Department's expected underspend against Departmental Expenditure Limits in 2015-16; what his Department's forecast is of total Annually Managed Expenditure in 2015-16; and what that forecast was at the time of the (a) Summer Budget 2015 and (b) March Budget 2015.

Alun Cairns: As recommended by the Treasury, Departments are encouraged to maintain a reserve. The Wales Office maintains a reserve of around 5% of its annual Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL), which represents our forecast underspend. This underspend can increase or decrease if planned expenditure is higher or lower than expected. In 2015-16, our DEL is £4.432m which includes the Departmental reserve of £0.222m. Our forecast of Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) is £-0.020m. The reserve stated above was also our forecast underspend at the time of the summer budget in 2015. The Department does not forecast underspends for the following financial year at the March budget. Each March, the Wales Office focuses on completing the financial transactions and processes of that current financial year.

Ministry of Justice

Liverpool Prison

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to improve the (a) cleanliness, (b) degree of crowding and (c) safety of (i) prisoners and (ii) prison staff in HMP Liverpool.

Andrew Selous: The Governor and staff at Liverpool are determined to improve the prison and action is already being taken to address the recommendations made in the most recent report. We are working closely with Lancashire Care NHS Trust to improve the healthcare provisions. More prisoners are out of their cells in work, training or education, and a range of initiatives are also in hand to reduce violence.

Prisoners' Release

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been (a) murdered, (b) assaulted and (c) subject to a  violent crime committed by people released from prison on licence in (i) England and (ii) Wales in each of the last five years.

Andrew Selous: Offenders on licence are subject to strict controls and may be recalled to custody if they breach their licence conditions. Offender managers regularly review the risk presented by offenders and may place additional controls where they are needed to protect the public.The latest data on the number of offenders who were convicted of a Serious Further Offence of Murder are published in Annex B of Proven reoffending statistics January 2013 to December 2013, published at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/proven-reoffending-statistics-january-2013-to-december-2013. The published figures include all offenders under any form of probation supervision, rather than just those on licence.The information requested is set out in the table below, based on data collected under the Probation Serious Further Offence (SFO) Review Procedures. The figure for the most recent year does not include cases where an offender has been charged with but not yet convicted of murder.Date01/11/2010 – 31/10/201101/11/2011 – 31/10/201201/11/2012 – 31/10/201301/11/2013 – 31/10/201401/11/2014 – 31/10/2015No of MurdersEngland232025216Wales20120The offences of violence against the person or violent crime in such general form do not fall in scope of the Probation SFO Review Procedures. Data on offenders released on a licence who have committed offences other than those in scope of the SFO Review Procedures are not held centrally in a readily accessible format for the last five years. To obtain these data would incur disproportionate costs.

Ministry of Justice: Wales

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times he has (a) met and (b) corresponded with a minister of the Welsh Government on the draft Wales Bill in the last 12 months.

Dominic Raab: The Wales Office is the lead Government department on the draft Wales Bill, and is the primary point of contact with the Welsh Government on matters related to the draft Bill.

Ministry of Justice: Wales

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, by what process his Department identified the areas of policy within its responsibility proposed for reservation in Annex B of the publication Powers for a Purpose: Towards a lasting devolution settlement for Wales, published on 27 February 2015.

Dominic Raab: Annex B to the Powers for a Purpose Command Paper provided an illustrative list of the main areas in which reservations would be needed in a reserved powers model. The list described the Government’s emerging thinking as the new reserved powers model was being developed. The Government published its full proposals in the draft Wales Bill on 20 October.

Prisons: Property Transfer

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's press release, Prison building revolution announced by Chancellor and Justice Secretary, published on 9 November 2015, whether the Government plans to consult on proposals to sell prison estates to property developers.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's press release, Prison building revolution announced by Chancellor and Justice Secretary, published on 9 November 2015, what discussions he has had with prison and probation staff on the planned closure of prisons in central London.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's press release, Prison building revolution announced by Chancellor and Justice Secretary, published on 9 November 2015, what plans he has for relocating prison populations in prisons in central London that are planned for closure.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Department's press release, Prison building revolution announced by Chancellor and Justice Secretary, published on 9 November 2015, which prisons the Government plans to sell to property developers; and what estimate he has made of the value of land on each of those sites.

Andrew Selous: On 9 November the Chancellor and Secretary of State announced their intention to build a prison estate which allows prisoners to be rehabilitated, thereby enabling them to turn away from a life of crime. This will involve building nine new prisons and closing old and inefficient prisons which do not support the aims of a redesigned estate. No decisions have yet been made on where new prisons will be built.We are currently considering which of our old and inefficient prisons will close. We will engage with stakeholders during the process of sale including valuation experts and potential developers in order to maximise the value achieved.Any relocation of prisoners will be done with careful planning. Where staff are affected they will be managed through the process of change using processes deployed during previous closures.

Ministry of Justice: Wales

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for what reasons the matters within his Department's responsibility in Schedule 1 of the draft Wales Bill have been designated as reserved.

Dominic Raab: The reservations listed in Schedule 1 to the draft Wales Bill reflects the Government’s view of where the Welsh devolution boundary lies following the devolution of further powers to the Assembly provided for in the draft Bill.

Prisons: Education

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how he plans to assess whether prisoners identified as having poor English and mathematics skills make progress prior to their release.

Andrew Selous: The Secretary of State for Justice announced on 8th September a review of the quality of education in prisons, chaired by Dame Sally Coates. The review will examine the scope, quality and effectiveness of current provision. It will consider the scope and range of the current curricula and identify the most effective teaching and delivery models. Stakeholders are being consulted and a Call for Evidence has been issued. The review is expected to report in due course. A copy of the terms of reference are lodged in the library of the House and at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-prison-education-terms-of-reference

Reoffenders

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the reoffending rate is of ex-offenders who were granted release on temporary licence to undertake (a) voluntary work, (b) paid work or (c) an educational course.

Andrew Selous: The Government fully supports the use of release on temporary licence (ROTL) in appropriate cases to allow prisoners to take work, training and educational opportunities that cannot be provided in prison, as well as for maintaining ties with their families. ROTL allows suitable, risk assessed offenders to start to tackle key criminogenic needs before they are released. It would incur disproportionate cost to establish the re-offending rate for offenders who, whilst in custody, had received ROTL for each of the three specified purposes.

Prisoners: Pay

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what revenue accrued through deductions and levies on the earnings of prisoners in each year since 2011.

Andrew Selous: The information requested can be found in the NOMS Annual report 2014/15: Management Information Addendum (p. 51, Table 19) and is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/prison-and-probation-performance-statistics-2014-to-2015

Prisoners

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners are serving sentences beyond the limit of the tariff for the crimes for which they were sentenced.

Andrew Selous: Prisoners serving indeterminate sentences have a minimum term, or tariff, imposed by the court for the purposes of punishment and deterrence. Once this has been served release is determined by the Parole Board on the basis of risk.The latest figures for the indeterminate sentence prison population by tariff length and tariff expiry date can be found in table 1.9 of the Offender Management Statistics Quarterly Bulletin published on 29 0ctober 2015: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/offender-management-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2015

Ministry of Justice: Families

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department has taken to embed the family test into its policy making.

Caroline Dinenage: Officials in my Department have worked with colleagues at the Department for Work and Pensions to support the application of the Family Test in policy development. All policy teams within the Ministry of Justice have been made aware of the processes to be followed when applying the Test. In line with DWP guidance, potential impacts of policy on family functioning and relationships should be identified and brought to the attention of Ministers where appropriate. The guidance can be located at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/368894/family-test-guidance.pdf

Scotland Office

Big Lottery Fund: Scotland

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the level of funding for the Big Lottery Fund.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office engages with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regularly on a range of important issues, including the Big Lottery Fund. The Parliamentary under Secretary of State, Lord Dunlop, met with the Big Lottery Fund in Edinburgh on 14 September.

Sports: Scotland

Richard  Arkless: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Scottish Government and (b) Scottish FA on strengthening security at Scottish stadiums and sporting events.

David Mundell: Protective security postures for public events are coordinated across the United Kingdom by the UK National Counter-Terrorism Policing Headquarters; the Police Service of Scotland forms part of the national counter-terrorism police network. The UK National Counter-Terrorism Policing Headquarters is providing guidance to ground safety staff for sports stadia across the UK. The Home Office is also in regular contact with the Scottish Government on counter-terrorism measures.

Cabinet Office

Renewable Energy: Tax Allowances

Anna Turley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department was consulted by HM Treasury before the Government announced its intention to exclude subsidised renewable energy generation by community energy organisations from eligibility for social investment tax relief.

Mr Rob Wilson: The Government is committed to helping social enterprises access finance as part of its  drive to build a bigger, stronger society.  This is why we developed the world’s first Social Investment Tax Relief. Cabinet Office  continues to work closely with HM Treasury, the relevant social regulators and social  investment market champions like Big Society Capital to ensure that this tax relief  achieves its policy goals in a way that is fair and provides value for money to taxpayers.

Debts: Young People

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the average debt of young people aged 18 to 25.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Average Debt
(PDF Document, 171.02 KB)

Breast Cancer

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many women were diagnosed with breast cancer in each of the last five years.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Breast Cancer
(PDF Document, 66.8 KB)

Students: Domestic Violence

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many students in higher and further education have been recorded as victims of domestic assaults in each year since 2012.

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many pupils are known to be (a) victims, (b) perpetrators of domestic assaults; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Domestic Assaults
(PDF Document, 152.53 KB)

Cobra: Northern Ireland

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason a representative of Northern Ireland was not present at the COBR meeting on 15 November 2015.

Mr Oliver Letwin: As is the case with information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet and Cabinet Committees, detailed information about attendance at COBR meetings is not disclosed. As a general principle, where an emergency directly affects areas of competence of a Devolved Administration, then they will either be invited to attend or advised on significant developments.

Immigration: Lithuania

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the rate is of (a) unemployment and (b) employment among people living in the UK who (i) were born in Lithuania and (ii) are Lithuanian nationals.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Unemployment
(PDF Document, 114.63 KB)

Young People: Pay

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK between the ages of 16 and 21 who earn less than £7.65 per hour.

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK aged under 18 earning £3.87 per hour.

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK aged 21 and over earning £6.70 per hour.

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of apprentices in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK earning £3.30 per hour.

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK aged 18 to 20 earning £5.30 per hour.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Earnings Per Hour
(PDF Document, 246.83 KB)

Freedom of Information: Housing Associations

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether reclassification by the Office of National Statistics of housing associations as public entities will entail their carrying the legislative obligations contained in the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Matthew Hancock: Registered providers of social housing will not automatically become subject to the Freedom of Information Act as a result of their reclassification.